The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-29

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Dec. 28.-Charles
Mitchell and James j. Corbett were
arrested to-day, according to pre-
arranged programme of the Duval Ath-
letic Club, to test the law in this State
in reference to glove contests. Mitchell
WAS arrested just after he finished
breakfast at the Everett Hotel this
morning, but Co.bett 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 eth instant agree to commit
an offense prohibited by law, to wit:
ibid attempt unlavfully by previ1 us
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 agree
ment alleged to have been signed by the
principals. These articles of agree
mont call for scientific glove contest
with gloves allowed by law and also
empower the referee of the contest to
arrest 1t when in his opinion It en-.
dangers life or limb of the principals.
The warrant concludes with the allega.
tion that Corbett and Mitchell are now
trying to get together and carry out
their intention to fight under the agree
mont.
The Judge commanded tho arrest OF
both. He did not, however, issue the
warrant or affidavit until County Sulici-
tor j. Is. Christie passed upon both
Judge Christie passed upon both and
advised tho sheriff to GO ahead and
have the warrants served. He first
amended the affidavit before approving
it.
Mitchell, accompanied by his party,
several members of the Duval Athletic
Club and nun Der OF local sports, went
to the courtroom. 1t soon got noised
abroad what was up and the result was
that the county courtroom and the
corridors of the courthouse were filled
with humanity from business men and
gontlemanly sports to the rsg-tag and
hob.tail Of the town.
The first that Mitchell did was to
look around over the room for Corbett
Not seeing him shade of disa ppoint-
ment spread over his face, and he asked
where he was. The members of the
club said: "Oh, he will be here latter. e"
Ii u,
said that the arrest of him first looked
as If he was being made a monkey Of
He wouldn't have minded had he been
arrested at the same time as the other
man. He was told though and found
some consolation, that the warrant was
joint affair, in which he and Corbett
were ordered to be arrested and brought
before the court
Once in che courtroom the formal
reading OF the warrant was gone
through with. Deputy Sheriff Vinzant
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 agreement which they incor-
porated. When tho deputy got down to,
"Said gloves to be furnished by James
j. Corbett," Mitchell said. Hold on"
He put his finger on the place and was
told him that was all right, 80 he simply
smiled, and the reading continued.
After the formalities OF the law were
gone through with bond was made
out. Mitchell binds himself in the
sum OF $1,000 to appear before the
criminal court on January 9. His
sureties are Messrs. Richardson and
Bowden, both OF the athletic club.
The Englishman pondered over the
bond for some time, and asked if 1t W As
going to cost him anything. He said
he would not put his anne to 1t If there
was one dollar OF expense. He would go
to Jail first and fight his own case. He
did not wish to appear as If he had in.
vented this arrest A. W. Cockrell.
Jr.. Of the firm of Cockrell & Son, who
was present, assured him that the club
was bearing the expense. and that it
had ample funds to conduct the whole
affair; also that Corbett had to 90
through the same programme. Then
Mitchell sat down and put his name on
the bond.
During the afternoon Corbett and his
party reached the city from Mayport.
Corbett Immediately proceeded to the
courthouse and went through the same
formalities regarding the bond as
Mitchell did in the morning. During
the Corbett hearing Solicitor Christie
expressed doubt whether the articles of
agreement, which were incorporated in
the warrant on which the men were
arrested, were identical with the orig.
inal articles. The solicitor seemed to
think the clau giving the referee
power to stop the contest when, in his
(the refeo s's) op nion, it endangers life
and limb was an atterthought. Corbett
explained to the solicitor that even II
this clause had been added to the orig
inal articles OF agreement it cut no
figure, as it was impossible for the pro-
posed contest to become brut al SO
long as the rules governing such con
tests were enforced
Corbett then affixed his name to the
,t.t I.
$500 to appear in criminal court Janu-
airy and answer the charges set forth
in the warrant. His sureties, as in the
case Of Mitchell, were Messrs. Bowden