The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-25
A JAILED INNOCENT.
George La Blanche Behind the
Bars for Larceny.
One Of the Results of the Recent sprinting
Match Between Ross and Dobbins at
the Bay District Track.

George la Blanche. the pugilist, who has
spent three months of his career behind
prison-bars for participating as a second in
prize-fght between women, renewed his
acquaintance with Jail life last night.
Against his name on the City Prison reg
lister was charge of grand larceny. and up
to a late hour the Marine" was awaiting
bonds for his release from custody.
In consideration of his high standing in
society La Blanche was not placed in cell
among job-lot assortment Of criminals
but was accorded the privilege of remaining
in the corridor. That consideration, how
ever. may have been shown him by reason
of his having called at the station at an
early hour in the evening and surrendered
himself
La Blanche's incarceration is not due to
an infractiOn of the law against prize fights,
nor for aiding and encouraging female John
LIS to pummel one another's mugs" but
Is the outcome OF sprinting match that
occurred on the Bay District Track within
the last few weeks.
Charley Dobbins, a resident of Nevada
City, having worsted all the local talent of
that place in foOt-races, had his ambition
aroused for wider fame and came to this
city to try his speed with the crack sprin-
tiers of Frisco. Foot-racers as a rule bear
an unenylaDle name, so far as "SquareneSs
is concerned, but IL was Dobblns' misfor-
tune to fall in with a gang more crooked
than the average in the fraternity.
a MATCH EASILY ARRANGED.
He was taken to the saloon ON Stock ton
street, conducted by La Blanche, where a
match was arranged between DObbins and
one William Ross for $3.50 a side. 1t was
agreed that the meeting should take place
Ill Central Park, but Tor reasons best known
to the "backers" of Ross, fault was found
with the track and the course was laid out
on the Bay District Track.
On the day appointed Dobbius appeared
with his hacker, John Furlong, and Ross
was on hand with j. W. Holmes, who pro-
claimed himself as the financial supporter
of the opponent of the sprinter from Ne
vada City. The race did not come off, how
ever, or TO state correctly, DObbins did not
90 over the distance agreed upon. He had
been scared off. There was gang of toughs
at the track, and their faces strangely re-
sembled those of the sports" who hold up
the front of THE Tip" ON Stockton street.
Dobbins and Furong were quietly told
that the former would not be allowed to
WIN the race, and like Il wise man he did
not attempt to do so, but demanded that the
stakes be returned. His request was
laughed at, and Furlong was informed that
his $3.50 had already been divided among
the gentlemen looking after the interests of
IlOSs' Lid DldHCHt, IL is Sdlu, loudly llnHleQ
some Of the twentes that had been put up
by FurlOng, and was not at all bashtul in
announcing that the cash was his share of
the profits in the scheme.
sILENCED BY REvoLvERs.
A display of revolvers sllenced the MUIR
murings OF the D0bbins people and they
submitted rather than have blood spilled
over the affair. In order to give the scheme
n semblance Of fairness, member of the
Ross party had discharged his revolver in
the air AS signal To start, and the local
racer ran over the course alone. The race
was then awarded to Ross, but FurlUng and
his man determined to bring the schemerS
to justice and consulted an attorney
They were advised to swear out COM
plants against the principals in the affair,
and accordingly Holmes was arrested for
embeZzing the amount posted by Furong.
La Blanche went off on a hunting trip
shortly after the race and did not return to
the city until yesterday. Learning that a
warrant had been issued for his arrest he
delivered himself to the police.
Dempsey's conqueror proved to be a poor
subject for an interview. He did not know
anything about the race, except that he had
witnessed the affair. He could not under
stand why a charge of grand larceny
should be placed against him. as he had
not dabblcd in the stakes, and the puglist's
battered physiogn0my became Wreathed in
guileess smile as he announced his dis
interestedness in the job against Dobbns.
1t is stated in connection with the affair
that Holmes had never actually posted $3.50
against the amount put up by Furlong. The
money was produced when the stakes were
posted, but was subsequently Withdrawn by
Holmes and the stakeholder forgot to men,
ton the fact to the other side