Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-05
THE FEMALE FIGHTERS.
Severe Punishment for Permitting Bat
tie Between Women.

BUFFALO, n. Y, Oct. 4-District Attor-
ney Buinby is determined to punish the
men who took part in the female prize
fight between Hattie Leslie and Alice
Leary on Navy island on Sunday, Septem-
Der Is. Five were placed on trial today
before Judge Hatch, in the Superior Grim
inaI court. They were: George La
Blanche, the marine, who seconded Hattie;
Billy Baker, who seconded Alice:
Hattie Lesiie's husband, John; Curley
Hughes, "a dead game" and John G..
Floss, theatrical manager. Hattie Les
lie testified for the prosecution. She said
Baker had suggested prize fight; that
there would be money in it, and articles OF
agreement had been signed. She and Lea
ry were taken down the Niagara river the
night before in small boat and picked up
by the barge in the morning. Floss had
paid her 49, but otherwise she had not re-
ceived a cent of the stakes. She
identified the defendant as having
been present. Several newspaper
reporters also testified to the
fight and identified the defendants as hav-
ing taken part in it. The defense was that
it was sham prize fight gotten up to
advertise the sparing abilities of Mrs. Les
lie and help her in theatrical way. The
claim was made that the articles of agree
ment were gotten up for the benefit of the
newspapers, and that the fight was gone
through so it would be reported. District
Attorney Quimby, in summing up the
case, said:
gagged and they repaired to Navy Island
and had prize hght-a contention in a
ring. The women were dressed in tights,
with spiked shoes, and fought seven or
nine rounds. They were to share the pro-
ceeds of this most brutal, most outrageous
affair. The price was S. to be entertained
on the Sabbath by women fighting. If
say. don't blame the women so much,
though they are indicted. 1t is
these men, these creatures, who are
at fault. 1t is disgrace to you and dis
grace to me-a shame to city known for
its law-abiding character. to think that
men SO brutal so lost to every ms met of
manhood, should engage in such an enter
prise. They fought with skin tight gloves.
which, / am told are worse than bare
knuckles and as these women blacked
each others eyes, these men stood by and
yelled and applauded. | took it upon myself
to see to it that these men should be
brought to justice. My friend on the
other side said that the fight was only a
quasi prize fight, an advertiser dodge,
boxing match, etc., but he can not prove it.
Prize fights between men have pehapS been
tolerated, but prize fights between women,
never | think that the men who would
engage in it must have forgotten the
mother that bore them. They must have
forgotten that their mother was woman,
and | trust as an outcome OF this
affair that these men shall be severely
punished at the hands of the law, and that
never again can it be said that men can
get together and poIlute the honor of
womankind."
At o'clock tonight, after being out two
hours, the jury decided that it was a
prize fight, and con victed all but Hughes,
whose connection with it was not
clearly proven. The penalty is one year or
500 fine.
Alice Leary has not been arrested, and
Hattie's case has not been tried.