The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-06 00:00:00

THE LATE PRIZE FIGHT.

At the sitting of the Lewes Quarter Sessions
yesterday, the Earl of Chichester, the chairman, in his
charge to the grand jury, said : " There was one case in the
calendar which was of considerable importance, and of such
aa unusual character that he felt boiled to make some obser.
maims upon it. The parties were charged with committing
a riot and meanie at a recent prize fight, of which no doubt
they Lad all heard. The first charge alleged was for riot ;
and he would just give them a general notion of what
legally constituted that offence. It must be proved that
three or more persons assembled together, and that that
assembling together was accompanied by some elitism-
'tepees of Retrial force or violence, or that there were
such tendencies towards violence as were calculated to in-
spire people with fear. Airy and all persons assembling
to witness such • proceeding would be liable to
be tried for committing a breach of the peace, and that
in law would be a riot. With regard to that
part of the charge which was alleged as an
ainsult, everybody well knew that a fight in cold blood, as
a prize fight would be, constituted a breach of the peace,
and all coanected with it, either as principals, seconds, or
lookers on, were thereas eiders anslabettcra, and therefore
guilty of an assault. He was also bound to point out to
them that should a prise fight terminate in the death of
either of the combatants., that would be murder in the eye
of the law ; but it was different where men fought after •
quarrel, and when their blood was up, then the law held
that death so caused amounted to no more than roaualaugh.
ter ; but the grand jury would observe that then the fight
was sot for money, or a prize. lie (the noble chairman)
had directed the attention of the grand jury to that matter
because the persons engaged in the riot were also charged
with the assault, and it would be sufficient to justify the
grand jury in seeding the parties down to the petty jury
toe trial if they were satisfied that their participation in
say way as alders and abettors in the fight was clearly
proved. It would be so as well, it for the mere purpose of
gratifying their curiosity they encouraged the
principals in fighting by their presence." His
lordship continued :—" Having thus, then, so far
called your &Meatless to the indictment, I think it my duty
to make • few remarks upon the subject of prize fighting
itself, because we all know that prize fighting was notorious,
and contrary to the law of England. It must be a source of
the deepest regret to all enlightened and well-thinking
mils in this Christian era to be obliged to know that the
diagrsceful practice of prize fighting was encouraged to a very
great extent, and not only approved but aided by those
whose education and position in society it might well be
thought would lead them tolend their weight in suppressing
it far more than the ordinary portion of the public would.
It was much to be regretted that there was a moat erroneous
impression prevalent in the matter which made people
almost forget that prizefighting was not only contrary to the
law of the land, but, as was of far greater importance con-
trary to all Christian feeling and Christian doctrine. I can-
not help expressing a hops that public opinion will take a
proper tura with regard to this sad state of things, and that,
lake many other ancient and evil practices, prize fighting,
with its concomitant evils, will cease to exist in
this Christian land, and become a thing of the pest."
It was, however, hall-put four when the jury returned a
true bill against all the parties jointly and severally who
had been indicted, viz., Thomas King, John Carmel Heesaa,
John Calvin Noon (alias Jerry Nona), John Macdonald,
James Mace, John Tyler (alias Boa Tyler), Thomas Sayers,
sod Robert Travers. At six o'clock. Mr. Edward Braley
said he had jest received a brief to defend some of the de-
fendants who were out on bail. As not only would several
questions of fact but alma law arise, he asked the bench
to allow the case to steed over till the next quarter sessions,
is order that he might have en opportunity of looking into
the law affecting it. This application was opposed by Mr.
Roupell, who, with Mr. Willoughby, had been instructed to
prosecute. Mr. Braley only represented three or four out of
eight defendants, widths application did not therefore ex-
tend to all, so that there would be the trouble, impasse,
and difficulty of tr7ing the case twice over.
In answer to an inquiry from the bench, it was dated that ,
Henan and Sayers had gone to Brighton by the 6.15 train,
under the impression that the case would not come on, and '
the chairman mid that, under such circumstances, as all the
defendants were not represented, the bench could not dis-
pose of the application for a postponement ; the matter
mud therefore be adjourned till this morning.
Oo the previous day, along discussion took place hairnet,
the members of the beech in reference to the facilities
alleged to have bees granted by the South Eastern Rail-
way Company for the fight, and it was resolved that the
chairman should communicate with the Sec/Glary of Stele
en the subject.

TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

(=rites rzczaaArs.)
THE GERMAN INTERVENTION IN
HOLSTEIN.

VIENNA, JAN. 5.

The semi-official General Corresponden: of to-day
publishes an article cautioning the minor German
States against acting against Denmark. It expresses
doubts regarding their power to undertake attacks
upon the integrity and independence of States
belonging to the Confederation, and says :
" The mission of protecting the Confederation
against any chances which might result from Euro-
pean complications belongs only to the great Ger-
man Powers, and the minor States are mistaken if
they think to be able to carry out attacks against
Denmark and her possible allies on their own risk."

THE OCCUPATION OF SCHLESWIG.
BERLIN, JAL 5.

The Thirteenth Division has received orders for
immediate concentration in the district of Prieg-
nitz. It is believed that this order indicates an in-

on the) part of the Federal troops to

diately occupy Schleswig.
It is stated that the Vienna cabinet has positively
declared to Prussia that it would not take any
action in the question of Schleswig should Prussia,
in the present state of things, withdraw from the
London protocol.
News received from Copenhagen states that Dr.
Kyno Quehl, Prussian Consul-General, died on
Sunday last in that city, after au apoplectic fit.

VIZ DANES IN SCHLESWIG.

KIEL, Jaw. 5.

The Danes have imposed very heavy requisi-
sitions upon the south-eastern districts of Schles-
wig, one demand being for 200 threu►horse carte,
and another for 3,000,0001bn. of straw.

THE SAXON DIET.
DRESDEN, JAN. 5.

In to-day's sitting of the Second Chamber,
Baron von Bent declared that the vote of Saxony
in the Federal Diet with regard to the stay of the
Prince of Auguatenburg in Holstein was opposed
to the proposition of the President, and was based
upon respect for the responsibility of the Federal
Commissioners, and on other reasons which justify
the attitude of Saxony with reference to the loyal
and political aides of the question. Baron von
Beast further expressed a hope that the majority
in the Diet would decide in favour of the claims of
the Prince of Augusteuburg, and declared that
Saxony joined the proposition made by Wurtem-
berg at the Federal Diet.

PRUSSIA.
THE DEBATE UPON THE LOAN.
BERLLN, JAI. 5.

At the meeting of the committee upon the loan,
in the Chamber of Deputies yesterday, Herr von
Bismark repeatedly advocated free action for the
policy of the government. He hoped, in conclusion,
that the house would rather grant the means
requested than compel the government to obtain
them by its own authority.
The debate was adjourned.

REPORTED DEPARTURE OF KING
GEORGE I. FROM ATHENS.
PARIS. an. 5.
The Paris evening papers state that the news
that King George had left Athena is considered
false. The statement that the French and English
fleet& would proceed to Copenhagen is also consi-
dered untrue.