Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-08-16
si-IIIXAN ON TRIAL.
He Pleads Not Guilty to the Indictment.
The Fight Described.

The Jury was completed after consider
able delay and Sullivan placed on trial at
Purvis Miss, on Thursday. stand up,
John l.. Sullivan" said district Attorney
Neville. Sullivan stood up and looked
straight at Mr.. Neville as the latter read
the indictment
"what say you, John L. sullivan, guilty
or not guilty7"
Not guilty." replied sullivan, with en-
phasis in a clear voice. He then sat down
and the trial was begun In earnest. He
paid strict attention TO the proceedings dur
ing the day but offered no comments, leav-
ing Mr.. Lionel Adams, who represented
the fighter, 10 suggest questions to ex-
Attorney General Ford, who conducted the
cross examination for the defense. The
witnesses were all sworn together; there
were none for the defense
The first witness examined was Major
w. w. Robinson. He went TO Richburg
on the morning Of July 9, arriving there
before daylight; was deputy sheriff saw
the ring pitched and proceeded TO give
very good account of what took place, de-
scribing the occurrences in the ring, the
arrival of tho trains loaded with men, etc;
mentioned the circun stance of Harding
handing Kilrain a roll of money, saying II
was 81 600 a present from Fox; that IL was
put up in Referee Fitzpatrick's hands and
covered by Sullivan with another thous-
and. Fitzpatrick was referee. Kilrain,
Sullivan and the seconds went TO the mid.
lle of the ring and shook hands. kilrain
and Sullivan then stripped and went at ii.
They fought with their fists and wrestled.
Kilrain threw Sullivan and the men were
picked up and taken to their corners. They
rested until Referee Fitzpatrick, who had
a watch in his hand, called time, when the
men came forward and fought again. Tho
fight lasted hours aud Is minutes, and
about 70 rounds were fought.
"Did they hit each other?" asked Mr..
| Neville.
"Hitr said Robinson. "I.ook at Sulli-
vans eye" Laughter
Witness then described the injuries re-
ceiycd by tho men from the blows. About
the last round Mitchell ran across the ring
aud said something to Sullivan. As he was
coming back Mr.. Donovan threw up a
sponge, and Fitzpatrick said something
about Sullivan winning. The crowd rushed
into the ring and hugged sullivan and
kissed him. They raved like maniacs and
carried him away on their shoulders.
ON croSS-c examination witness said the
rings were square and looked more like
pens. He never saw such rings before.
Witness said the fight was in Marion
county, but in cross-cNamination admitted
he could not exactly locate the battle
ground, and does not know where the
conHS lino is. Witness testified that he
saw sullivan jump on Kilrain with his
| knees, and affirmed positively that Sulli-
vans knees touched kilrain's body.
J.W. Smith, Sullivnns host at Richburg,
! testified TO Sulivan's staying at his house,
! and driving over to the ring the next
morning. Several other witnesses were
| examined. The state rested their case. and
| as there are no witnesses ON the other side,
| II was agreed that the case go over until
! tomorrow. The iurymen were placed in
| charge of two bailins, and slept Thursday
! night on the benches in the court room.