Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-26
A QUEER CHARTER.
PROVISIONS OF a REMARKABLE BILL
RECENTLY PASSED.
companv Authorized 20 Conduct Prixo.
Fights. ana Also TO Appoint
Its Own Police.
e,..n uo have prize-hghts in Virginia?

commonwealth.
Theact in question Is tho one which in
corrorstes the Virginia Sporting and Ath-
letic Club.
EENARKAEIE PROVISIONS.
Tho law contains some rather remarkable
r-ey.sons. II grants the club the right TO
oou not over 5000 acres Of land IN every
r.,.-fy Of the Commonwealth. This ground
ma, boz used forthc propagation OF al kinds
of games. The club can hold fairs and
have races and contests between hOrses,
dogs. and other animals.
The president of the club NAV recon-
mend 10 the county Judge such persons as
Io may see Ut for policemen, and these
,Mccrs arc 20 have the pOwerto eject from
the grounds such persons as commit
breach ot the peace or violation oil the
ralos OF the club. .,
Tbi. law rcpcals al acts in conflict with
fir provisions Of this charter so far as they
r.laic 10 the powers md rights granted the
club.
CtN CONDUCT 4 IOITTEY
The Norfolk IU7jui0n, which published
tUcaci Yesterday, says Of n;
"E. flc provisions Of the bill II - as
serted lv those who are convelsant with u
'lat fhcie can be tull-fQbts, prizc-hghts.
Dig fights. chicken-hghts. aud any other
contest under the blooming sun. II IS as
fprtDd fmtncr that gambling can 60 on IN
f.'l blast. and the charter may bc So con-
efiuei as to allow the company owning IL
elauoe 90 run lottery
RNLHoADrD rHEoUcu.
Yie blI was introduced ia the Senate by
Mr.. Turner. of Norfolk, on March 30. ana
w4. passed under suspension oi the
rules without being read. The House
pa--el II tire same day. 10 was approved
hy The Governor on March ttn.
PROVISIONS or TIE BIlL.
Following are some of the most impor-
t.,t provisions oi lhe blI:
Irreaa-'li bv thr G.uer1i fssrmbiv q Yir-
oa... mat Ichn W. Bailey. George II. Blooi,
.obu l. Wellington. &. ". Bartlett, :. J.. French,
tac.r a.soriate- nni sucges-or-' h"' AMI tncy
ore hereby. lacorplra, Eni male h1iy
.ufifi- md corp rg.e under TIE name ana slyls
.. ttrriuta sportIu. aud Athletic Ciub.
Ile esl company is hereby nuinorized t.
fsu-o or enclose ! "a lands, or any iail lheicoi.
End m1y post tho same 0croItin IN law; huu
aII persons arc hereby prolih.ei aud iothldaen
go euter uD3u auy ~ ue lsnds 80 enclosed or
r.n-tei belonging fe or leased by soid company
t.r any purpose o. iu any capacity whatsoever
rfttu.t tHr rorSt ui ui fie lr -ilcut or manager
fs4li company. Aul thu person entering upon
aur of the enclosed or posted lands beiphRlhE 10
tr .nHsei iy slii CON- pany without such c"i-
CONT or who being thereon ny virtue o. any
t.-ul-silr q consent, shall Interfere in any
was with ANY athletic game race or
contest or with any person or per-ous
about tn engage therein Or moEaribg any such
elrn, match. or contest hotweon individuals.
.uU-. leagues. Or q 'eociaNons, or any race or
contest between lnrsos, sporting dogs, oT otncr
animals, or who shall Ia any way violate any
r.ii.- or regulations prescribed by tho BOarn ot
Directors ~ SAD company, shall o9 deemed
guilty ~ ~ an awfu and malicious uespass,
rri may ie sufumafIlY cjrcci from s6i .
GROUNDS by the officers and scrgRuts OF the said
company, gul ehGll ho .ihble o. be prosecutor
n.I punished as is provided hy law iof Such
Il'o sad company is authorized 10 uss its
rut- or those le t4cd by T. for me propagation OF
81 sIpIs ot game, Tor ih' breeding, BOARDING.
i.I training 0t horses, dogs. and other sporting
,..uals. and the eail company is authorized ID
..'f 90 ANY time ura. bonch-shoWs. or ekhiii-
...- ~ which Ta"na botwCon horses IN cont STA
O.. r..trne- between dogs aud o.her animals may
.a.. place individuals, CLUBS, leagues or A.
s. irfilns mav contend az sold fairs and c1hibi-
..u- or ut Auy umc upon mo erounis ~ the
company for lTl1es M alt Kinds oi Rihleiic-,
games. sp0r.s. or contests. llo company
ehal cause Co. te p41muigniel PRIOR 10 W,
holding of fhir, ehaw. or exhibition or
hnv Etud rules ana regulations which shall
govern Tie same. Tho judge oi tho county
...rt of n. county in v.lrh The eXhi3ition
grounds Of ue company may De- located snail
uuon application hy the company appoint 81 n
r.n.4.n- e. the president or manager Of said
company may name and such persona appoint.
rd n- Aforesaid rhau te Authorized 10 attend
nnv fair ur her exhibition hold upon said COM
r,.ntI- ground ANA to act a. coieorvgi0r5 Oi tho
tr4.~. Inry -hal tavo tne IiEit and authority
.,4r-H and c'oc, from thc grounds OF The COM
.1.y HuF Vrr-lu or persons Who shhu Cfthto
a.y disturbance or who shau commit any
.r.arh of the uosco or violation iu any way auy
~ tuo rules or re-iiauons ot the company
Tho proyl9io0s of this charter IN
lI ratfers connected with tho said company or
I,. operations, or in relation % mo conduct 81
if. blfnir@ ard the management Of iis business
rHqI govern. and al acf- ia conflict with THIS
charter are hereby repealed 20 far as they May
.r any way relpte % or restrict rights, powers,
.. .uruege- Of tue said company as herein
Granted. To an matters not PROVIDED Tor IN i's
.larfnr the said company Is declared 20 be tup-
.art 10 t.e provisions of the genarAl law fegu-
laune anl controlling. sad companies ana cor.
snrslcu
WHAT THE GoyFRSoE SAYS.
,,,t nirht Governor Mckinney was seen
f. 'he Executive Mansion by Dispatch r.
porter and .scd for his views "A 10 the
.ov,r granted i'm the charter. He said the
... was brought 10 him for his signature
rrrin- the closing hours of the General
Assembly,. and be was crowded with not
- than 100 pages of manuscript. lie
t..u -ht al the time there were TO Objection
lUle feature. in tho hill, but that 1t SIMPLY
incorporated "A pleasure club.
lio said he had not read the bill since lts
Tr.,ut pubhcat on, and could nor therefore
express himself further about the matter.
WHAT A SENATOR SAID.
Senator Conway T.. Sands was also asked
f.rli.vitws. lie did mot remember the hlll
h.ushcfore the Legislature, hut thought
there was no doubt II was "rallroaded"
f.rgurh both houses. iio was certain 10
would not have become a law had The men,
b.r- known of IFS extraordinary provisions.
The senator did not think any one would
D.. se foolish rs 20 engage IN ltlZe-nghts IN
This State and risk tins act being declared
unconstitutional and subject themselves
90 the punishment provided IN the general
statutes.
WHAT THE MAYOR WOULD 30.
Navor Ellyson thought we need not fear
r,i1e-lghts in this State, knowing the
General Assembly did not intend TO pass
la. 10 allow such a sport in tins State.
if such thing should be attempted IN
H-chmond under the provisions of this
charter. the Mayor declared that he would
exert all bis authority 10 stop II, ana
would risk this special law being declared
Invalid.
TTE ATTORNEY-GFNEEAL.
Attornoy-General Scott said he had not
read the biz, and therefore cid not know
ANYTHING about the matter. When told OF
tle provisions ot Che act be remarked with
% -uile Well. probably 10 would nor be
we'll Tor nriZe-tghts 60 bo attempted III
Virginia.
Ex-rUsIIcE RICHARDSON.
DC. Richardson, Esq, was shown a copy
o. the mll. and when he had read It he re-
marked that some of the provisions were
rather extraordinary. lie referred TO the
Code. which makes prize-hghtlng felony,
and SAID be did not think such sport
could be lawfully engaged III unuer the
provisions of the charter Of the Sporting
and Athletic Club.
TIE PEE UNPAID.
Before the club can proceed 10 organize
under their charter they will have TO pay
the Keeper of the Rolls $50 for a certified
copy Of the act.
Sir. Bainley, one Of the corporators named
Ia the bill, has been 10 the Capitol since
the adjournment OF the General Assembly
aud made inquiry OF Colonel Bigger about
Tie matter He is expected here this week,
when II is probable he will pay the tax on
the charter aud get certified copy OF the
act.