Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-29
PUGILISTS.
Mitchell and Corbett Both Placed
Under Arrest.
THE PROCEEDINGS A TEST.
They Are Regarded as a Joke, But May
Turn Out to BE More Serious
Than This.

JACKSONVILLE, FLA, December %.
Charles Mitchell and James j. Corbett
were arrested to-day according to a
prearranged programme OF the Duval
Athletic Club to test the law in this
State in reference to glove contests.
Mitchell was arrested just after he had
finished breakfast at the Everett Hotel
this morning. but Corbett did not appear
In court until This afternoon, as he could
not reach the city from hls training
quarters at Mayport at an earlier hour.
The affidavit was issued this morning
by County Judge Banter. IL says that
Charles Mitchell and James j. Corbett
did, on the 9th instant, agree TO commit
an offence prohibited by law. to-wit:
Attempt unlawfully, by a previous ap-
pointnent, to meet each other with the
intention OF engaging in a fight.
The warrants recite the substance or
the affidavit, including the articles OF
agreement alleged to have been signed
by the principals. These articles Of agree
ment call for scientific glove contest,
with gloves allowed by law. and also
empower .he referee OF the contest to
arrest Il when In his opinion, It endan-
gers life or limb OF the principals. The
warrant concludes with the allegation
that Corbett and Mitchell are now try
ing to get together and carry out their
intention 10 fight under the agreement.
The Judge commanded the arrest OF both.
IN THE COURTROOM.
Mitchell. accompanied by his party, the
members Of the Duval Athletic Club, and
number Of local sports. went to the
courtroom. II soon got noised abroad
what was up, and the result was that
the county judges room and the corri-
doris of the courthouse were nlled
with humanity, from businessmen and
a great many sports to the rag-tag ana
bob tall of the town.
The first thing that Mitchell did was
TO look around over the room for Cor
bett. Not seeing him, a shade OF disap-
pointment spread over his face. and he
asked where he was. The members or
the club said, "Oh, he'll be here later
on"
He evidently did not like 1t a bit, and
said that his arrest first looked as II he
were being made monkey Of. He would
not have minded had he been arrested at
the same time as the other man. He
was told. though. and found some con-
ISOLATION in the fact that the warrant was
n jolnt affair in which both he and Cor
bett were ordered to be arrested and
brought before the court.
Once in the courtroom the formal read
ing of the warrant was gone through
with. Deputy Sheriff NanStant doing the
reading. He stood on the inside and
read. while Mitchell looked over his
shoulder and followed him. The legal
mart OF the warrant did not seem to inter-
est Mitchell half as much as the articles
Of agreement which they incorporated.
When the deputy got down TO SAD
gloves to be furnished by James j. Cor
bett" Mitchell said Hold on" lie put
his finger on the place and was about 10
make an objection, but Bowden told him
that was all right, so he simply smiled
and the reading continued.
After tho formalities Of the arrest were
s,one through with q bond was made
out. Mitchell binding himself in the sum
OF 81 800 10 appear before the Criminal
Court January 81. His suretles are
Messrs. Richardson and Bowden, botn
OF the Athletic Club.
ARREST OF CORBETT.
During the afternoon Corbett and his
marty reached the city from Mayport.
corbett Immediately proceeded to the
courthouse, and went through the same
formallties regarding the bond as
Mitchell did in the morning. He also
affixed his name to n bond requiring
him. under a penalty OF $500. TO appear
in the Criminal Court January "a ana
answer the charges set forth In the
warrant His sureties, as In the case or
Mitchell. were Messrs. Bowden and Rich-
ardson, Of the Athletic Club.
The friends OF both Corbett and
Mitchell. especially Of the latter, treated
the whole proceeding as huge JOKE.
They tolled Mitchell about the prospect
of being locked up. and one OF the party
asked him how he would like to be locked
IN In the same cell with Corbet.
The idea seemed to tickle MN nm
mensely. A big smile spread over ms
face. and he said with emphasis: Finely,
and think that programme wouiu take
all the fight out Of the gentleman, don
you? .,1,c,
HAREAs CORPUS PROCEEDINGS.
Before January ID, when the principals
are named to appear before the Cfiminai
Court, action Is to be taken Whlcn "nI'
In n measure. test the law. This Is an
appIication for q writ OF habeas corpus.
which will be made before Judge Can
probably next Monday.
Corbett and Mitchell are now pracu-
cally In custody. The argument VIII De
that they are unlawfully detained, ana
that their arrest was illegal because there
IS no law against glove contests Ii
Judge Call holds that the arrest was NE
gal. Mitchell and Corbett Will both be
released. and will engage in glove con-
test If they please. II, on the other hand.
Judge Call decides that the arrest was
Legal, then the principals VIII be com
PEELED to appear before the Criminal
Court on the day named, and their case
will then go before jury. The opinion
is that there is no jury In Duvai county
who would find them guilty.
There Is another contingency however
which may put new pnase vi. VIC
a ansair and that Is the possibility OF the
Covernment's instructing the county so-
,,c,tor 10 ouash these proceedings and
Institute such new proceedings as he and
~ Acknowledgement may agree upon