Morning journal and courier., 1884-09-05
TRIAL OF THE PUGILISTs.

Continuance of the Case Until To-
 day-Was it an Intended Prize FIghta
 Thomas Sweeney and Thomas Donahue,
 the noted ''town" pugilists, were before
 the City court yesterday morning for fight
 ing at Hamilton Park on Tuesday last. Judge
 Blydenburgh appeared as counsel for Dona- hue, while City Clerk Pigott managed Swee- neys case.
 N w Merwin was the principal witness
 for the State. He said that he was exercis-
 ing his horse at the park shortly after 4
 o'clock. After driving around the track he stopped near the grand stand to watch Hen
 dee and other skilled bicyclists practieing.
 After looking on short time he noticed two men, whom he recognized in court as being
 Donahue and Sweeney, come out of the
 crowd of men that were looking on at the ball game. Sweeney made the first pass at Dona-
 hue. The blows sounded as though they
 were striking barn. When the witness saw that it was liable to be serious fight he
 drove over to the almshouse and had the au-
 thorities there notify the police. George
 W. Smith said that he saw two men come
 out from the crowd and go to fighting. He couldn't tell which struck the first blow. This was all the testimony introduced by the State.
 Sweeney then took the witness stand. He said: 'FThe game half over when Charles Tinbar, the catcher on ReiIly's nine, split his finger I took him over to the house to see if we could do anything for him. On the way back I met Donahue. He said it was time we settled this grievance and struck me before the words were out of his mouth. As soon as the first blow was struck 1 was sur rounded by his crowd. If had not defend ed myself I would have been murdered. He
 struck me twice before struck him. There were four or five blows struck before the crowd surrounded us. I had not seen Dona-
 hue for some time. On cross examination he denied that he published challenge over his signature in the papers to the effect that he wanted to fight Donahue for $2, 900, or that he would give Donahue $500 if he would make match with him. In reply to MT Daley as to what he did for 8 living he said he was a bartender for Mrs. Pearsall at the ''Police Gazette Shades" Charles Tinbar cor roborated Sweeney's testimony Henry Pearsal testified that Sweeney had within week or two put up money in his hands to be covered by Domaine. The latter did not cover it, and so friend who put up forfeit for Donahue lost 1t.
 Judge Studley inquired how much was put up and Pearsall said there was $2O. The fight was to be with soft gloves. Donahue claimed that Sweeney picked the row.
 Judge Studley then asked what there was to the report that there was agreements for a prize fight drawn up between the two parties. His honor said if this was so, he would have to call the attention of the prosecuting at
 torney to it. If there was any challenge passed between the two parties, he wanted to
 know it. He suggested that the case go ov-
 CT until to-day, and that in the meantime the
 prosecuting attorney look up the matter.
 MT. Pigott told the court before it anjourn-
 ed that he could explain the matter of
 Sweeney's putting up the $20 last month. It
 was done by gentleman well known to any
 one in court, while he was slightly intoxi- cated.