The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-29
PUGILISTS In CUSTODY.
MITCHELL AND CORBETT ARREST
ED TO TEST the Law.
The Englishman Was ARA gued First and
He Wanted Corbett There Too-The
Argum cnt For Release.

were arrested to-day according TO pre-
arranged programme OF the Duyal Ath
letic Club. 70 test the law in this State
In reference to glove contests. Mitchell
was arrested just after he finished break
fast at the Everett Hotel this morning,
but Corbet did not appear In court until
this afternoon. as he could not reach
the city from his training quarters at
Mayport at an earlier hour.
The affidavit was issued this morning
by County Judge Baker. 1t says that
Charles Mitchell and James J. Corbett
did. on the 9th instant, agree to COM
NIT an offense prohibited by law, TO wit.
did attempt unlawfully, by a previous
appointment, TO meet each other with the
intention Of engaging In a fight.
The warrant recites the substance Of
the affidavit, including the articles OF
agreement, alleged 10 have been signed
by the principals These articles Of agree
ment call for a scientific glove contest
with gloves allowed by law, and also en-
powers the referee of the contest TO ar
rest 1t when, in bis opinion, it endan-
gers life or limb, OF the principals. The
warrent concludes with the allegation
that Corbett and Mitchell are now try
ing TO get together and carry out their
intention to fight under the agreement.
The judge commanded the arrest of both.
lie did not, however, issue the warrant
or affidavit, until COunty-Solicitor j. B.
Christie passed upon them. Judge Chris
tie passed upon both. and advised the
sheriff 10 go ahead and have the war
rants served. He first amended the aff-
dayit before approving it.
Mitchell, accompanied by his party, the
members Of the Duval Athletic club, and
few local sports, went 10 the court
room. IL soon got noised abroad what
was up. and the result was that the
county judges room and the corridors
Of the courthouse were filed with human
ity, from business men and sports, to the
rag-tag and bob-tail Of the town.
Mitchell Lon -sons W, hou Corbsti.
The first thing that Mitchell did was
TO look around over the room for Corbett
Not seeing him, shade OF disappointment
spread over mis- face, and he asked where
he was. The members Of the club said:
"Oh, he'll be here later on
He evidently did not like 1t a bit, and
said that the arrest of him first looked
as If he were being made a 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 consolation in the fact that the
warrant was a joint affair, IN which both
he and Corbett We're ordered 80 be ar
rested and brought before the court.
once in the courtroom, the formal
reading Of the warrant was gone through
with. Deputy Sheriff Van /ant did the
reading. He stood on the inside and read
while Mitchell looked over his shoulder
and followed him. The legal part OF the
warrant did not seem TO interest Mitchell
half as much as the articles OF agree
ment which they incorporated. When
the deputy got down to: said gloves 20
be furnished by James J. COrbett," Mitch
ell said: Hold on" lie put his finger
on the place, and was about to make an
objection, but Mr.. Bowden told him that
was all right. 50 he simply smiled, ana
the reading continued After the formali-
ties OF the arrest We're gone through
with. a bond was made out Mitchell
binding himself in the sum of $1,000 TO
appear before the criminal court on Janu-
arv ID. His sureties are Messrs. Rich
ardson and Bowden, both Of the Athletic
Club.
THE Englishman pondered over the bond
for some time. and asked II it was going
10 cost him anything. He said he would
NOT nut his name TO it If there was one
dollar Of expense. He would go 10 jail
FIRST and fight his own case. He did not
wish TO appear as if he invited this ar
rest.
A w. Cockrell, Jr., Of the firm OF Cock
reU & Son. who vas present, sald lhat
the club was bearing the expense ana
that it had retained ample couhset 10
cord,,ct the whole affair; also that Cor
bett had TO go through the same pro-
gramme. ,4 .,s
Then Mitchell sat DOWN anu p"' '''
name on the bond.
Corbett in Court. Too.
During the afternoon Corbett ana MS
Marty reached the city from MayporI Nor"
bett Immediately proceeded 10 the oOulp
,,(''sa and vent through the same for
ralities regarding the bond as Nntcnen
d,d In the morning. During the CorDett
hearing. Solicitor Christie expressed douDt
whether the articles Of agreement, "hlch
we're INCORPORATED i'm the warrant on "iiich
tbe mon were arrested were identlcal with
the original articles. The solicitor seemed
to mink the clause giving the referee
power TO stop the contest when III MS
the referees opinion, II endangered ire
ar limb. an afterthought. Corbett explain
cd to the solicitor even If this clause had
been added to the original articles OF
agreement IL cut no figure. as it was I'M
nDSSiDtF
come brutal so long as the rules govern
ing such contests were enforced.
Corbett then affixed his name TO the
bond offered him, under penalty Of a.oo
TO appear in the crimianl court January
ID and answer the charges set 1orth IN
the warrant. His sureties. as I'm the case or
Mitchell. were Messrs Bowden and Rich-
ardson. OF the Athletic Club Friends or
both Corbett and Mitchell, especially OF
the latter. treated the whole proceeding
as a huge joke. They joked him about
the prospect OF being locked up, ana one
Of the party asked him how he would
like TO be locked up I'm the same cell with
COrbett.
That seemed to tickle him immensely
A big smile spread over his face, and ne
said wish emphasis:
"Fine: and | think that programme
would take all the fight out OF the gem
tleman. don't you?"
Before January ID, when the principals
are named to appear before the Criminal
Court OF Record, the procedure Is to be
taken. which Will I'm measure test the
law. This is an application for the writ
of habeas corpus, which Will be made be-
fere Judge Can. probably next Monday.
The srgum mt for Release
Corbett and Mitchell are now practi-
cally in custody. The argument VIII
be that they are unlawfully detained, and
that this arrest was Illegal. because there
is no law against glove contests.
If Judge Call holds that the arrest
was Illegal, Mitchell and Corbett will
both be released and will engage In
glove contest II they please.
II. on the other hand. Judge Call
decides that the arrest was legal. then
the principals will be compelled to appear
before the Criminal Court on the day