The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-16
FAILED AGAIN
ROby Promoters Make Another
Attempt to Incorporate.
Governor Matthews States His Position
No Opinions Asked of the At
torney-GeneTal.

Yesterday Messrs. Champaign, Knots
and attorney Gregory, all Of Hammond,
Ind, came down 10 the Secretary OF States
office with amended articles for the incor-
poration of the Roby fighting institutions,
or. in other words. the Roby Athletic AssO-
citation. Their effort yesterday. however.
met with no better success than the one
made some days ago while the Governor
was away. Before Governor Matthews
started away he anticipated this attempt
TO file articles whereby the company might
get its property away from its receiver.
and cautioned Secretary Myers TO hold il
off on technicalities until he returned, and
TO do this Mr.. Myers questioned that por-
ton of the articles which related TO the cap
ital stock under which the company asked
to file. The articles designated $1,000 as the
amount OF their capital stock. while, as a
fact, the Governor. on passing through
Roby, had seen with his naked eye no less
than $4,000 worth OF property in sight. The
articles were so arranged that the Ham
mond people might sub,et the property TO
whoever they chose, without being respcn-
sible for the subletter's actions.
The Secretary of state asked the Ham,
mond gentlemen TO file their afidaVits TO
the effect that no prize fighting should Ice
permitted and that the association was 10
be Incorporated for no other purposes than
those named in the articles, but they would
not do so. He then sent them away empty
handed, as before. Governor Matthews was
asked as to what turn the matter would
now take. and answered frankly that hs
hardly knew, but that under the writ OF
supersedeas granted the athletic company
they had filed their bond for s5O,0OD and had
obtained possession of the property, and
that this application 10 file new articles
was virtually an attempt 10 renew the ex-
istence of the old club. Originally, when
Governor O'Malley had approached him
on the matter OF incorporating the club. he
had argued the extravaganza expense 10
which he intended to be that Governor
Matthews might take some interest in the
establishment as a State institution, and
had informed him that said expenditures
would be in the neighborhood of $1,000.
ms all went to show, the Governor said.
that the present proposed company was not
acting IN good faith in representing their
capital stock as being no more than $l,aC0.
and it was plain to see that they were not
were trying 10 rob the State OF its hard
earned revenues. In order TO make his po-
sition clear on the question, Governor Mat
thewS said:
II do not know just what turn the Roby
matter WIZ take. Fearing that steps would
be taken to r~eorganize the association. I
requested, some days ago, the Secretary OF
State to withhold a certifcst e of incorpora-
ton until | could confer with him. This h9
has done, and so far as he feels justified in
going by law Captain Myers VIII withhold
his assistance to them. The gentlemen hcre-
to-day from Hammond offer different ar:l-
Giles than first proposed, but place their CAP
ital stock so low that Ii certainly seef1s
insufficient to accomplish what they set out
in their articles, such as a gymnasium,
boating, bathing and summer resort. etc.
Their capital stock was only placed al
Sl,2Jc, and this to assume ownership and
control of property that has been estimated
to cost $50, 900 or 60,G0. This seemed SO alb
surd that the Secretary asked from them
an g lids viz that THE nbGn1n.aly rnprauanfaE
the capital stock, and they refused. Al
together, it wears a suspicious look. IL
their only intention is 20 give athletic and
glove boxing contests they could secure
the theaters in Chicago. and 1t looks pre-
posterons that they should go outside Chi
cago, purchase "A great barn of a building
for this purpose. It creates the suspicion
that for their crowds and profit they must
depend upon the patronage of q certain ele-
ment in the city of Chicago that would
alone be satisfied with prize fighting. aud
of the brutal kind. There seems 10 be-a
pretty good-sized darkey in the woodple.
will use every means ! can 10 prevent its
success"
The Governor said. further. that, suppos-
articles, it would still be assuming the con-
troll OF property now in the hands OF the
court. and il the court sustains tho receiver
ship all it's attendant costs VIII become a
lien on the property. IL. however. they get
their articles up IN proper form. the Secre-
vent their being filed. and them" said the
Governor. 1.-THE question would arise. could
l. put q slOp 10 the matter at TIE expense
Of the State for you know such an expense
as that would entail would be no small mat
ter"
It was thought that the Attorney-gcneraI
might probably say something rs TO
whether the Governor would have such a
right or not, and q reporter for the Jour-
nal ventured to ask him that question. not
understanding the opinions he has heretofore
rendered on this point, but Mr.. Smith had
no opinions 10 offer when they were not
solicited by State officers. so he said. and
declared that he did not propose TO get
mixed UP in the Roby matter. He then
has got along pretty comfortably, thank
you" without the Attorney-generars opin-
ions IN this matter, and that this fact has
puzzled Mr.. Smith so much that he some
times works himself up TO a frenzied state
on hearing the word "Roby' pronounced in
his hearing, and occasionally offers TO
throw reporters into his waste basket who
daIe TO speak to him on the subject.