The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-12-29

ryr5-l he .laocia,ld Pres spccial CorrcsponGentl
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. Dec. 2S.-Those
who doubted the sincerity OF Champion
jim Corbett and Charley Mitchell in
their individual efforts to pull of the
biz fight here in January must give way
now to the stronger evidence OF facts.
The big fighters to-day voluntarily gave
themselves up to the authorities in or
der to iorcstall arrest at later date and
to test tho legality OF their proposed
contest. 1t was all a prearrauged plan,
and SO far as the plan itself goes it was
cegerly devised and satisfactorily car
red out.
Manager ]. Z. T. Bowden, OF the Du-
val Athletic Club, has schemed for days
and nights SO that there might be no
Interference. 1t has been q cherished
dream of his and OF the other club mag
mates that the big fight should occur
under the supervision OF the Duval
Athletic Club and right here in jack
s5nvIlle.
Last night the officials decided upon
4 final effort. They gathered in the
closest consultation, and their attorney,
George +. ACosta, who has worn an
anxious look throughout the week, was
with them.
4 plan had been hit upon, and Mr..
Acosto, having carefully searched his
law books, sailed forth and procured
warrants for the arrest OF the two pagil-
i,ts on the ground that they had agreed
10 participate in fight which was to
come of within the boundaries OF Flor
iia. Both Corbett and Mitchell were
apprised OF what was in store for them
and neither offered serious objection.
This morning Mitchell was arrested at
the Everett hotel and taken before
Judge Baker, of the county court. The
warrant was then read to him and he
Immediately gave bonds in the sum OF
$3.50 to appear before the criminal
court January ., 1894. Mr.. Bowden and
Charles Richardson, also OF the DuVal
Club, signed the bond.
About 4 o'clock in the afternoon Cor
botI came to town from his Mayport
Cottage. jim did not seem to mind the
little part he had to play any more
than il he were again on the boards.
Corbett also was taken before Judge
Baker where he gave bonds to appear
before the criminal court on January 2.
This latest move on the part OF the
managers Of the Duval club was en-
tlrey unexpected by the outsiders. On
Monday, January |, either Mitchell or
Cofbott will be surrendered by his
bonlsmen. After he has been taken
into custody a writ OF habeas corpus
vii. be applied for. lit is decided that
the arrest was an illegal ono, then
Preparations for the fight will continue
with increased vigor, as that will be
looked upon as an evidence that no
further opposition to the fight can
legally be made. II the arrest is con-
s.dered legal, then the Duval managers
gay that the battle will be declared of
and all work will be stopped.
Work on the big arena is being
pushed rapidly forward aud tickets for
the contest are being sold in large num-
bers. Those who are opposed to the
fight claim that the action taken by the
Duval Club is simply blind. R. B.
Archibald, one OF the most prominent
Of the opposition, said tonight that
whether the criminal court decided
that the arrests were illegal or not, it
would have no bearing on the case. He
said tina! such decision would not pre-
vent the stopping OF the fight by Gov
ernor Mitchell, or by the sheriff. This
view is not shared by the majority OF
attorneys in this city, the general oPin.
Ion being that should the decision OF
the court be favorable to the Duyal
Club further opposition will necessarily
cease.