Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-17
THE PRIZE FIGHTERS.
John L. Sullivan Found Guilty-Move-
ments Of Others Interested.


At Purvis, Miss, yesterday the jury returned
Q verdict finding Sullivan guilty Of prize fight
ing. A motion in arrest Of Judgment viii be
made and heard today.
THE ARouMENrs.
The arguments began at O'Clock by the dis
trict attorney, who spoke an hour propounding
the application Of the facts Of the Law from his
standpoint. His argument was fair to the de-
Tense and free from vindictiveness. Judge 8.
s. Calhoun and ex-Attorney General T. 8. Ford
argued for the defense in the order named
claiming that the state had failed TO establish
by the proof a technical prize fight in the case
at the bar; that there ia no positive nor direct
evidence that prize or anything Of value was
fought for; that the alleged bet between Sulli-
van and Kilrain, had it been fully and COM
pletely established, was not sufficient element
to constitute . prize to bring the case within
was not clearly proven, that Kilrain's indemnity
was not clearly shown. Each gentleman occu-
pied something over an hour in the presenta-
ton Of the case.
When the jury after an absence Of thirty
minutes fled into court, it being known that
they had agreed on a verdict, the court room
was filled with the excited populace, and when
the foreman handed the verdict to the clerk to
be read . death-iks silence prevailed in the
room.
THE VERDICT DELIVERED.
The clerk read: I'VE the jury find the de-
PENDANT guilty as charged in the first count Of
the Indictment" which means guilty Of prize
fighting.
The verdict was received without demon
stration Of any kind The defendant showed
no excitement nor emotion, but remained calm
and immovable. Judge Calhoun at once an
nounced that the defense desired to file mo-
ton for the arrest Of Judgment and the same
was MED instanter, it having been previously
prepared, as If in anticipation Of the result Just
reached The consideration of this motion
was postponed until today. A petition was put
In circulation and was numerously signed by
citizens, court officers and grand jurors asking
the court not to impose q greater penalty than
a nne OF $1,000 and without imprisonment.
Sullivan's friends say that if he is fined 81 900
and not sentenced to Imprisonment he will pay
the nne without murmur and at once, but IL
imprisonment is imposed q motion for new
trial will be made, and il the same be over
ruled an appeal will be taken to the supreme
court, which appeal will be determined at the
ensuing October term. Sullivan is reticent on
the subject OF the verdict, though he had been
hopeful that it would have been otherwise.
HARDING's LINE OF DEFENSE.
William E. Harding. who is credited with be-
ing the most nervous Of all sporting, men il
now In for it. He has received word from
Mississippi that the Marion county grand jury
had indicted him for aiding and abetting the
sullivan-Kilrain prize fight, and along with .
number OF other New York sporting men,
Harding will have to stand up and answer for
his participation in the affair Of last July 1t is
said that his defense will be that he was at the
ringside to report the happenings whereabouts,
and did not help to bring the men together, if
Gov. Hill turns him over to the Mississippi
authorities. This defense was recently set up
In Baltimore in the case Of Reporter Lee
Clarke and was found to be o sound argument
York Doiy Ne,os, incidentally, although he has
got more scrappers together than any other one
man in this city. In the absence Of Richard K.
Fox, Harding is the ruling spirit Of the Police
Gazette. His friends. however, say that he at
tended the encounter at Richburg as a chroni-
prize ring fights. Harding has been fearing
arrest for years, but the new line of defense
has occurred to him only recently.
PLANS OF JAKE Ku.RAIN.
Jake Kilrain yesterday paid Q short visit to
his counsel, Mr.. Joseph whyte, in Baltimore.
While he was at Mr.. whyte's Office John Rooney,
surety for Kilrain's appearance on Thursday
next, also dropped in. The three had q private
confab, which Mr.. Whyte said was Of a social
nature. Kilrain and his counsel were watching
the outcome Of the trial Of Sullivan. When
told that Sullivan had been convicted Kilrain
expressed some surprise, as he did not expect
it, evidently, from the course the trial was tax
ing. He seemed to think that the point that
was raised-that no one was willing to swear
in what state the fight came off-would puzzle
the jury and get them to disagree. Jake was
evidently worried over the news and asked
what the punishment was When told that it
was believed to be o., 900 fine or one year in
Jail or both his worry seemed to increase. He
leaves things in the hands Of his counsel, and
he may make fight against extradition