Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1868-06-04
Thursday Morning, June A, 1868.
"Going on their Muscle. %

Friday contains long account,
with startling heads and sub-heads,
of a 'prize-fght" that didn't come
off in Indiana, and of another that
did. McCoole, one Of the "shoul-
der-kitters," as these common nui-
sances are POLITICALLY termed, was
arrested by the Sheriff of Dear
born county, but an accommoda-
ting Judge released him of course.
(The sword" of such distinguished
persons is Gas good as their bond
just about, and McCoole prompt
ly appeared in the ring for fight!
But Coburn, the other party in
the proposed "mill," was by this
time in the hands of the police,
and the fight was deferred. The
'roughs" had to see some one
pounded, though; and SO @catch-
weight fight" was improvised, for
$500, between Patsey Sheppard
and another Coburn, named Mike,
in which six rounds were fought.
The parties are too Influential
to be brought to punishment
Thus it will probably stand until,
emboldened by convenient friends
in authority, one or the other will
murder some quiet citizen in a fit
of inebriation, and either be sent
to the gallows, as an example, or
placed in an official position-say
the Legislature, for instance-to
persuade him into life of sobriety
and virtue.
Now, as can ounce of proven
ton is worth a pound of cure" per-
NIT us respectfully to suggest some
amendment to the present appa-
rently ineffective statutes, calcula-
ted to punish these disorderly spir-
its in their earliest attempt to ex-
pand their muscle" at the expense
of the public peace. We have no
wish to see these creatures cultiva-
ted for the gibbet, and we have
still less to see them supplant de-
cent men in posts of official profit ;
but, as justice appears to be blind
altogether, to the misdeeds of men
of this calibre, and gives them carte
blanche to menace and to MAIN,
while it carefully publishes and
mufcts the errors of responsibility,
what is to be done? Nothing, we
conceive, but to ask the Legisla-
lures to protect the community by
placing a ban on all such charac-
tiers the instant that they develope
their destructive tendencies. The
moment a man engages in ''prize-
fight" let him be outlawed, as well
as his seconds, his hackers, and his
bottle holders. Rule them all, Pc
remptorily, out of honest society.
Compel every one who in any way
assists in these barbarous and bru-
tai exhibitions to flee the country,
and send them promptly to the
penitentiary for a twelvemonth if
caught thereafter within the linn.
its. Treat all the gentlemen who
boast that they "travel on their
muscle" in a similar manner, then
summarily GUST from public office
every individual who can SO insult
the popular sentiment, so offend
good morals, and SO establish a vi.
cious example as to place such par,
ties in positions of consequence,
and we shall have occasion to note
the difference.
At present, the large cities are
quite at the mercy of these unscru-
pulous beings. You rarely hear
of their trial and conviction. You
may read Of their victims by the
score-respectable citizens manned
and "mauled"-but it would be
passing strange to find a shoulder
hitter" himself at the bar of JUS
tice, and still more strange to find