New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-23
P2IzE.rIGHrS ~ KINGS COUNTY

II i, highly di,crcditablc T. the authorities Of
King, County that pr1e-hghts are allowed at
Gravc,cnd Brutal and dcmoralizing contests
have been permitted in several cases Of late at
Concy Island and the great crowds of applaud
ing spectators wh) have paid high prices OF
admission 10 the big building OF the bOgu,
COncy Island Athletic Cuban organization
formed exclusively 10 promote violations OF the
laW-hayc wildly apvlaudcd the vicious and re-
voting struggles Of pugil>ts. 1t has been de-
cid d by IN, courts OF this state that all
matches with gloves, i'll which the question OF
the ability Of one fighter % cripple or disable
another Is involved are criminal and not 10
lie tolc.a'cd There is no dispute about the
construction OF the lazy. No one can deny that
tn" matches which have been fought before
tic Coucy Island Athletic Club between God
dard and Mahor. Costello and GrcggianS, Lynch
and Griffin Siddons and Pierce have been
carried on in in olont and outrageous defiance
If tac laws OF thi, >atc. Ivory one concerned
in thos, mfanly and Illegal affairs ought to
be- brought to Justice livery official Of the
club ought t. be imprisoned for his contcmptu-
Gus disregard of The statutes Of Ncw-lorli
State. All the fighters, their seconds, their
hackers. their allie, and accompliccs ought also
to DO behind prison bars. Why is it that the
Conoy Island Athletic Club is encouraged to
break the law at lis own pleasure?
lti,tlc plain duty of Dialrct-Att,rlcy Ridg
way of Kings County 70 put an end TO these
disgusting and criminal affair." at COncy Island.
Mr. RidgWay is an exceptionally amlablc and
good na'ur' d prosecuting officer. He is not ut
all inclined to take rigorous action against prize
fighters unless an imperious AID irresistible
public sentiment compcls him to set the ma
chincly Of the law in motion He ought not
10 delay in taking the cases of these trans
glc>sorS before the Grand Jury Of the county.
Mr.. RldgWay is Il sort of perpetual District
Attorney OF our neghboring county, having
been elected term after term by the Demo
cratic majority on the other side of the East
River He probably has come to the concu-
sion that 50 long u, he has the backing of Hugh
Mclaughlin AID his Democratic associates, he
need not fear that any neglect to cnfolcc the
laws in King, County will cause him any dis
comfort. But Mr.. Rldgway, there are such pro-
coed ngS q, charges against Dsuict-A Attorneys
for neglect of duty. and one of your prcdeccs-
-OIS in Office was removed by a Democratic
Governor some years ago for Irregularities in
oili~c. 1t is certainly an irrcgulauty in Office
TO FIJI to prosecute such mpudent and un-
scrupulous lawbroalicrs a, the officials of the
Coney Island Athletic Club and the prize
fighters who meet III the prizc-ling at Graves
end Mr. Ridgway'> failure to take action to
break up or to prevent these prize-iights is
ndcien>iblc and incxcusabc.
OF course nothing Is to be expected in the
way of enforcing the law from John Y Me
Kane, who holds Concy Island in the hollow of
his hand. Mr.. Mckane is the redoubtablc
Pooh Bah of that sandy strip of shore. He
fills all the available offices which can con-
tribute TO his honors and emoluments. In con-
nection with the many places OF power and