The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-29
WILL TEST THE LAW
Florida Sports Cause the Arrest
of COrbett and Mitchell.
Scheme to Outwit the Authorities and
Secure Immunity from MOlestatiOn
ON the Day of the Prize Fight.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Dec. 2S.-Those
who doubted the sincerity of Champion
James Corbett and Charley Mitchell in
their Individual efforts to pull off the big
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 order to forestall
arrest at later date, and to test the
legality of their proposed contest. 1t was
all prearranged plan, and, so far as the
plan itself goes. it cleverly devised and
satisfactorily carried out. 1t had its anus
ing features, too, for Corbett was not on
hand at the appointed hour and Mitchell
ragged and fumed when he discovered that
he had to face the court alone. Champion
James had, all along, viewed his possible
arrest with feelings akin to horror, but,
towards the close OF the afternoon, he
came up from his training quarters and
took the sheriff's warrant without a muir
muir.
Manager ]. e. It. Bowden, of the Duval
Athletic Club, has schemed for days and
nights so that there might be no interfer-
ence. 1t has been a cherished dream OF
his and of the other club magnates that
the big fight should occur under the super
vision of the Duval Athletic Club and right
here at Jacksonville But the vague rum
ors which have filed the air that the au-
thorities would step in and take a hand
and the strange uncertainty TO the
real movements of the executive officers
have thrown a damper on all these plans
and projects.
Last night the officials decided on a final
effort. They gathered in consultation and
with attorney George Acosta. y plan
was hit upon and Mr.. Acosta having care
fully searched his law books. sailed forth
and procured warrants for the arrest of
the two pugilists on the ground that they
had agreed to participate in a fight which
was to come Oft within the boundary of
Florida Both Corbett and Mitchell were
aDprisad of what was. in store for them
morning Mitchell was arrested at the Ev-
erett Hotel and taken before Judge Baker.
OF the County Court The pugilist was
more than surprised not to find CorOett
also in custody. When Informed by Bow
den that Corbett had been sent for and
would appear during the day, he calmed
down. The warrant was then read to him
and he Immediately gave bond in the sum
Ct $500 to appear iar before Rowden fhe Criminal anal
Charles Richardson also of the Duval
Club, signed the bond. Mitchell and his
party left shortly afterwards for the train
Ing quarters at st. Augustine.
About o'clock in the afternoon Corbett
came to town from his Mayport cottage,
looking fuSBeu anu HedII!. D1IIy
Brady was behind him. Delaney and
a small coterie OF faithful adherents were
also there. COrbett also was taken before
Judge Baker, where he gave bonds to ap-
pear before the Criminal Court on Jan. ,.
Then they left the court and declared their
intentions of remaining in Jacksonville un-
til the next morning.
This latest move on the part of the Duval
Club was unexpected by the outsiders.
On Monday. Jan. l. either Mitchell or Cor
bett will be surrendered by his Dondsmen
After he has been taken into custody q
writ of habeas corpus VIII be applied for.
If 1t is decided that the arrest was an II.
legal one then preparations for the fight
Will continue with increased vigor, as that
will be looked upon as am evidence that no
further opposition to the fight can legally
be made. Ii the arrest Is considered legal,
then the DuVal managers say that the bat
tie will be declared Oft and all WOTk Will
stop The managers are confident, how
ever. that the decision will be favorable to
them, and this feeling is shared by the ma
iority of the citizens. Work on the big
arena is being pushed rapidly forward, and
tickets for the contest are being sold in
large numbers.
that the action taken by the Duval Club
is simply a 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 that such a decision would not
prevent the stopping of the fight by Coy.
Mitchell or by the sheriff. This view is
not shared by the majority OF attorneys
in this city, the general opinion being that
should the decision of the court be favor
able to the Duval Club further opposition
will and Gead Disfrict 9pF
ridge have wired Governor Mitchell, who
is at present at Tampa, asking him to send
Attorney-general Lamar TO conduct the
case for the. people. No reply has as yet
ha.av,