Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-23
THE CODE F0RBlDS.
pRlzE-FlGHTlNG MADE A FELONY ANU
ITS PUNISHMENT DEFINED.
Several Opinions Concerning the Right Oh
the Athletic Club to Have "Miin
on Virginia Soil.

ginia soil and recognized by the oIa'e au-
thorities az q legitimate sport
This question, which was go widely us
cussed about a month ago when the recent
act of the General Assembly cbartering
the Virginia Sporting and Athletic o'uo
and conferring upon il such broad powers
was ventilated by the newspapers, Is oelhg
agitated afresh and is engaging the aIteh-
ton alike of the sporting fraternity, the
moral element of the community, anu U44o
civil powers.
The matter is vested with especiel interest,"
now In view Of tho press dispatches sent ou.
from New YORK on Wednesday TO the effect thet
q conference between hr. j. N. bailey, one oi
tho cOrposators. and john l. sullivan han result
cd ia the great sluggor from boston agIeelns ~ 70
come 70 Virginia 70 fght Joe McAulihe Tor tlo.-
000 10 july and the negro jackson for sso'J'0i In
August
WILL THEY FIGHT HEBEI
VIII these two lights or either Of them OF eny
others OF n like character occur In virginia
ThA, tho Bosonian is wiling % nght most
anybody for a large purse there is no doubt ana
II 10 equally as certstu that the st0etho ooots III
the club would like 20 have such exhibitions
under their charter. as In the persons OF so cee,
brated pugilists thov gee attractions that Will
draw immensely and put money into their
Golfers
Bus will the officers OF tho county 10 which II
10 proposed 10 have The contests as the act ol In-
corporation very innOcently calls them, alloE
the fights 70 proceed uninterruptedly or VIII
they take bold stops to break up the exhibitions
which are declare toy the Code OF virginia 70 10
felonies punishable with foe and imprison-
ment1
Thi. remains 20 be seen. Public sentiment
would dictate the latter course, and IL Ia the
opinion Of those in Official positions here that it
should be pursued. 10 Is not believed thst the
right OF ;he club 20 have "mills In the state
can be established in court of law. aud the
consensus Of opinion is strongly IN favor OF
making the test nv arrestiug the principals and
ell who Iuay be connected with any such event
that may be undertaken.
IT WAS NOT READ.
Had the bill Incorporating the club bcen TeHd
through In eithsr branch o. the Legislature as
tie Constitution cOntefnplaies and careful law
making would dic,a!o. some OF the Objectionable
features though their real intent is very care
fully and inZeniously withheld from view might
have attracted toe notice OF some OF the moro
wstchful members aud have been omitted or 30
toned down ss 70 have oeen rendered unobjec-
tonable and without offence.
That the Legislature had no idea OF giving its
sanction & a prizenchting or gambling ciubis
very certain, but the measure vas introduced IN
the Senate on the 81 Of March and WAS passed
tho same day by both houses and was signed by
the Governor three days later " hen tue act WAS
taken 10 the Executive for his approval he was
very much crowded with the manuscript OF
passed BIZ +. and being convinced that IL simply
Incorporated q pleasure club ana had DO Oh
teciionBble features he a0iXed his Pignature
lie was greatly surprised when first told that the
bill had been construed TO allow such "spOrt
in tho Comm wealth, an II Is believed that,
Ike jackson OF Mississippi. be can DO relied on
to uso every effort TO prevent nght, and II he
fails IN that he Is not likely to do, he will have
the offenders brought 10 justice
RRMARKABLE PROVISIONS.
Tho act in question, a comprehensive digest OF
which wes published IN the Dispatch when tho
nature OF the new law was fret brought TO light,
contains many remarkable provisions.
IL is clsimed by some that tho club can have
gambling and if II chooses run lottery. The
corporators are john W. Bailey, George ii.
Blood. John l.. Wellington, c. W. Bartlett, aud
5. l. French
WHAT The CODE SAYS.
Section SG93 OF the Code Of Virginia, styled
"Prize- Fehung-How Punished says:
every person WHO by previous engagement
or arrangement meets another person and en-
cages In night commonly known as prize
fight, shall, in the discretion OF the Jury; be
punished by confinement in tho peniteniiary
not exceeding five years or by fne not exceed
ing one thousand dollars or both"
Concerning the cobstiiutionality OF the char
tering act perhaps the most important ques-
ton involved is whether the section OF the Code
just quoted IA repealed or not inasmuch as no
such reference is made In tho title.
Section No. IS OF the Constitution OF Virginia
provides ihht "no law shall embrace more thar
one object, which shall be expressed In It's Title
nor shall any law be revived or amenied win
reference 10 It's title. bat the net revived or the
section amended shall be re-enacted and pub
llshed at length"
OPINIONS EXPREssED.
Several gentlemen whose opinions In matters
Of this Kind are worthy of respect ana consider
atiOn we're sought yesterday ty Dspdtch re-
porter for expressions Of their views a. 20 whe-
ther prize.flghting can and Will be allowed IN
this State. The ideas obtained were quite unHn-
nous In support of upholdiug the law as isid
down in the code.
fce the reporter called, was not in the city.
having gone to Fredericksburg on legal busi-
noss. Major Scott some time ago SAID tnat he nad
not given the bill very careful CONSIDERATION, Dut
added with significant smile Well proba-
bly, IL would not 10 we'll for priZe-nghts TO be at
tempted IN Virginia"
Rx-JUsIIcE RICHARDSON.
81 only read the set over hurriedly," remark
cd ex-Police-Iustice ID. G. Richardson, but |
hardly think IL can be constitutional To permit
prize-nghting the title Of the act should have
provided for the repeal OF the section OF the
code providing the punishmcnt which make,
this offence a felony. Pubic sentiment IS Ger
tainly against anything Of the kind, and tho
oi1icers who undertake 70 break up such
exhibitions will have the people and.
think the law at their bsckA II | were Chief OF
Police OF Richmond there could DO no prize
fight within the jurisdiction OF the city unless
held without my knowledge"
THE MAYOR SPEAKS TO THE POINT.
Mayor Ellyson's observations we're brlei, out
directly 10 the point and emphatic. lie said
There should not be the slightest hesitation on
the part Of the local authorities TO suppress tho
fghi. No priZe-fght could take place In Rich
mond with my knowledge. ! should use all she
force the law allows me- to prevent II. such
violation Of the laws Of the land, aad such an
offence against the dignity OF the Commonwealth
should not be tolerated for one instant. and am
cure II the local authorities 6nd themselves
helpless that the Governor will come TO their as-
sstance with such aid az may he recessary.
Prize-dghtiog should not be tolerated In virginia
under any circum stances"
Chief-ot. Police Poe cOncurs in the sentiments
expressed by the Mayor. and says ho will not
olcw any p-iZe-nghting TO 20 on in or about
Richmond.
From these expressions II appears that II Sui
! liyan comes 10 Virginia 10 hgnt and his friends,
the onicers, do not intercept mis- movements. he
will have 10 remain the sta'e's guest for some
time or give up good part OF his earnings
Marriage of Mr.. Gunst and Miss Weil.sH
Mr. Charles Gunst and Miss Ida We'll were
married Wednesday afternoon at 20 O'Clock at
the residence OF the brides parents, No. lOl west