The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-12
TOBAR OUT THE SLUGCERS.
JaCkSOnVillG'S Mayor Won't Allow the
Fight to Come Off There.


dinlnce Prohibiting Prize Fighting
Within the City Limits - Several
Sites Near the City, but Outside the
Mayors Jurisdiction, Available.
What Attitude the Governor win
Assume Unknown.
jacksonville, Fla, Nov, 1l.-Mayor
Fletcher has asked City Attorney Barrs
for an opinion as TO whether or not the
city of Jacksonville has under its charter
the power to prevent the Corbett-Mitch-
ell fight from taking place here, and the
attorney has informed him that it has.
In an interview tonight the city attorney
said: The mayor has instructed me,
should there be no sufficient act now in
force, to prepare an ordinance covering the
matter, and If necessary, he will call a
special meeting Of the city council, aJ
which the ordinance may be made a law.
Mayor Fletcher has heretofore taken no
special steps in the matter for the simple
reason that he did not believe that ar
rangements would be perfected insuring
the holding of the match here, but now
that developments have shown strong
probability Of this city being selected as
the place of meeting, the city government
has decided that it is time it asserted it.
self and prevent an occurrence which
other localities have prohibited from ta-
king place in their vicinities."
PRETTY SURE TO BE PROHIBITED.
In all probability, very stringent
ordinance, actually pr0hibitory in its pro-
visions, will be passed by the council in
a very few days, and the annOuncement
that this meeting between the champions
will certainly not be allowed in Jackson
vile, will prove a severe blow to
hundreds Of sports in Jacksonville who
| to an event which they had begun
to regard as a certainty, and it
will doubtless cause bitter COM
mcnt upon the "slowness and lack OF
enterprise" On the part Of F'lorida's
metropolis, but members of the city gov
ernment say that they are law-abiding
and God fearing and that prize fight,
although clQaked under the name OF
'scietifc glove contest" will not be toloI'-
ated within the confines of their official
Jurisdiction il there be any legal method
of preventing it,
SITES OUTSIDE THE CITY.
But the Jurisdiction Of the municipal
government does not extend beyond the
city limits, and there are at least half
| dozen available spots within easy access
from the city. Right across the St.
| Johns river Is South Jacksonville, with
| ferry boat and a railroad bridge connect
ing it with the city, and from Eit three
lines of railroad extend to Mayport, Pablo
Beach and down to the east coast 300
miles. So the prospective action of the
city government is of little significance,
as regards the fight.
ANOTHER CONSIDERATION.
There is another consideration, how
ever, The validity of the present city
government is now being considered by
the supreme court of Florida, and it is
not impossible that upon the date set for
the fight the present officials may be
ousted and their predecessors restored TO
power
Twelve OF the leading white clergy
men Of the city have united in call for
a public mass meeting for next Monday
night, the purpose Of which will be to so
arouse public sentiment that every pos-
sible means will be employed to keep the
contest from being held here.
Meanwhile, Gov. Mitchell says nothing,
and the sheriff of this (DuvaD county is
understood TO be awaiting some word
from the chief executive, indicating his
Interpretation Of the law.
ENJOYNING A FIGHT.
New Orleans, Nov. 11.-Late yesterday
afternoon an application for an injunction
was filed by Attorney General Cunning
ham, in IL c civil district court, to prevent
the Olympic club from giving the Bowen
Abbott glove contest on the 10Th inst, as
advertised.
THE INJUNCTION GRANTED.
The injunction was granted. The at
torney general also filed a petition pray
ing that the charter of the club be for
feited on the ground that they have vio-
lated the law in holding prize fights, the
attorney general designating glove con-
tests as prize fights.
Several members Of the Olympic club
were seen to-day. They were, on the
whole, very glad At a recent meeting
s., 900 was set aside by the club for legal
expenses. They expected to get into the
courts. and wanted to do 50. The men,
bers were confident that the state could
not win its case.
EXPERT TESTIMONY.
There is probability that the various
sporting editors and experts throughout
the country who have witnessed the big
contest here, win give evidence in the
case defining glove contest legal under
the statutes of the state. The evidence
of all these gentlemen will be procured, it
is said, through notaries public and sent
by mail. The sporting editors of the vari-
Gus local papers and other local experts
will also 90 on the stand. The club will
fight the state to a finish.
Mayor Fitzpatrick was asked what
action he intends 10 take in connection
with the proposed fight before the Olympic
Athletic club In reply he said the sub
ject was one Of law, and he would act as
he deemed necessary, when the time for
action comes. Beyond that he does not
care TO discuss the matter.