New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-19
IiUBEEJEERS VINO ESCAPE.

The death of Rordan Is likely to cause inc III
Ji.,ucnt of FitZSimmons for mansaughter
rho former was a pugilist Of the second grade
thc laitcr is 4 hopeful candidate for the cham-
rion.hp If the prizc-ring. and the TWO were
.no,rnr mariners In the show business. Inc
survivor and his friends allegc that the dow
which IN. struck on the stage AT syracuse. anu
IN cousruu,ncc Of which Riordan died, was very
upht and delivered with the back of the hahh
:, that if could not have injured Il healthy Dap!
aud thrv add as a cons0ling and eXculpatory
circumstance that Riordan was heavy drnker,
had in fact consumed pint Of Scotch whskcy
shortly before the show began. and was uh-
uucsiionably in 80 degenerate physician con
diiion that he might naturally have dropped
J.,d d, any moment The doctors will TESTIFY
a, to this point. and the courts. with due con
sldcrafion for medical opinion will probably
settle the ease Of FltzsmmonS according 10 the
law and the evidence. AT all events 1t Is not
dccoro,s either To PREJUDICE the ease or to
assume that exact justice Will not be Done III
snitc Of the fact that similar homicide not long
ago appears To- have been overlooked by thoSc
whose duty il Is To bcstow official attention on
such affairs. II i proper however To say 'Ha' inc
nucilis,ic show business generally unSpcakaby
vulgar and demorallzng. was in this Instance
exceptionally revolving, n appears from me
sollcitous excuses of FitzSimmons and his
sppkcsrncn. Their chief anxiety just now Is L"
prove that The man who lies dead was Known
hv them 10 b. In 80 degraded ana miserable
a condition ~ body 10 be- utterly unit for MS
part in the exhibition.
Thi, shameful occurrence ought to d. the
means If qulckcnlnG the conSricnccs of those
who are charged with the enforcement of the
laws by bringing under closer scrutiny the
whole business ~ professional pugilism In al
H., method, and practices And if the stringent
statute which j. now in existence, but too
seldom and too mildly applied. Is not adequate
for the purpose which II IL designed 10 accom-
pli,h. the coming Legislature should promptly
perfect H. Przc-fshtS advertised a such and
II continental notorcty are not pulled of IN
the state ~ New York. but they are frequently
arranged here with complete impunity. In spite
~ The law Moreover. prizc-tishis which are ~
smaller interest To the dcyoccS of the ring. bur
~ cIul or greater fcrocity and quite as lawlcSs
and offensive In every adjunct and detail. have
frequently within IA, last two or three years
been impulcntly brought 10 finish in the i'm
mediate ncghborhool Of this city. without the
slightest apprehension IN The part Of those con
/ ccrncd In them II was time long ago for n
| stop 10 be- put TO such encounters. by the crini-
| nal prosecution OF the blackguards who con
duet them and The pugilISts who get their living,
their reputation and their training for more con
| spicuouS performances through such institutions
/ as the Concy Island A;hletl' Club.
II may be- difficult matter to make ont a
/ clear case against he fighters and their hackers
who negotiate. sign articles Of agreement and
/ deposit stakes In this city Yet their proceed
ngs invariably obtain publicity. and not Che least
/ effort to bring them to justice for these pain
violations Of law * ever made. This sort ~
/ thing needs 10 hc stopped also. and If any tech
meal defect In the present statute Is in The way
/ II ought 10 be rcctiicd without delay.