The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-01-18
THE GOVERNOR DEFIED
TIE DUVAL CLUB WILL FIGHT to-
FINISH.

FINISH.
Stat. me mt to tho Public Guarants, Ing III o
Match as Adverttsed-To Test the Law
With n Negro sluaGing Match.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Jan. 9.-The
managers cf the Duval Athletic Club
set q snare for its enemy, Governor
Mitchell. today into which they hope
he will fall and thereby give them au
opportunity to test the Florida law in
relation to prize lights.
The snare in question is the arrang
ing of a contest between Two negro
sluggers to take place at the opera
house in a few days. The principals to
the affair are Perry Watkins, negro
champion middle weight Of Florida
and Green Harris, negro champion
middle weight of Tennessee. The men
are to lighG for purse of $500 and
have signed articles of agreement iden-
tical with those signed by Corbett and
Mitchell.
The purpose of the club is to test the
sincerity Of Governor Mitchell's oppo-
sition to the Corbett Mitchell mill and
also to get a decision from the courts
as to the law in relation to priZe-lghts
in this State. If the Governor and au-
thorities Of Duval county allow the ne
grOeS to meet and slug one another, the
club people will say that the Execu-
tive's opposition to the proposed Cor
bett- Mitchell fight is insinccre and is
dictated by other reasons than de-
sire to preserve the "peace and dignity
Of the State" If the authorities of the
county acting under instructions from
the Governor, prevent the fight and ar
L@ ~,
say Tat they Will'yery likely be able to
secure decision from the courts as to
whether prlZe-iights are violative of
the State law. In either event the
club hopes to be a winner and down the
Governor.
When questioned in regard to the
: mill between the negroes the club man
ayers deny that they are promoting
the affair, but IN sporting circles. it is
said that this denial is only made for a
blind and that Manager Bowden and
!, others have arranged for the bout be-
tween the negroes.
The following correspondence be-
tween the Governor and Sheriff PER- y
Of st. Johns county, where rumor has
it the club has decided to attempt to
bring about the fight, shows how vigi
liant the Governor is and how deter.
mined he is to checkmate the club
The Governors letter to Sheriff Perry
is as follows:
Executive Department,
!. Tallahassee, Fla, Jan. 8, 1894.
G. ]. Perry, Esq, Sheriff Of st. John!
, County, Florida, st. Augustine:
!, Dear Sir: see by the papers tina
l James j. Corbett and Charles Mitchell
: one of their brutal prize fights. have 81
amended their agreement that saiC
3 fight might take place in either Duval
: or st. Johns county, and you are in.
structed to prevent said contest in st.
Johns county whether it Is known or
called prize fight. glove contest, or is
. known or called by any other name.
You understand the situation in your
county, and if, in your opinion, you
will not be able to prevent said contest
with the means at your command, you
are instructed to call upon the Execu-
tive of the State for such assistance as
you may deem necessary.
L have confidence in your intelli-
gence, and you are expected to carry
out these instructions to the letter by
preventing the proposed contest be-
tween said parties in your county.
Very respectfully,
II. l.. MITCHELL, Governor.
Ic this Sheriff Perry. after consult
ing Judge w. A. Mac Williams, his at
torney. mailed Oh the evening of the
9Th the following reply:
Sheritfs Office, st. Johns County,
st. Aug glstine, Fla, Ian. 8th.
Hon. Henry l.. Mitchell, Governor of
Florida, Tallahassee, Fla:
, Dear Sir: Your com municatiOn Of
January 9TH, 1891, received and the
contents duly noted, and in reply there
to would say, 1t is now, and always has
been my intention to uphold the law
in accordance with my oath Of Office.
If it becomes necessary 70 call upon
you for assistance to that end | will
not hesitate to do SO. Very respectful
Jy, G. j. PERRY,
Sheriff St, Johns County.
VIM. a. Brady, who is managing
where the chang pion is training. OueS-
tlon3l by the Southern Associate ed
Press correspondent in regard to the
outlook for the fight, Brady said:
" am strongly of the opinion that
the club people will be entirely success.
ful in their efforts to bring the contest
to successful issue, and you may be
sure that our END Of the affair will
give them all the support in our pow
er."
Brady was also asked about the at.
tempt made by some unknown person
to enter COrbetts sleeping room, re.
ported in these dispatches last night.
but he refused to give any opinion as
to the purpose OF the intruder.
The Athletic Club late tonight fur
niShcd to the Southern Associated
Press correspondent Il statement TO
the public, which. after reciting the
history OF the legal battle for the past
two weeks, already familiar to the pub
lie, and describing Governor Mitchell's
action, continues as follows
This club, through it's manager, com.
muniCated with Governor Mitchell and
asked him to submit the case, with the
contracts with Corbett and Mitchell.
to the Supreme Court in fair and i'm.
partial manner, and that that body be
allowed TO pass upon the same This
the Governor refused to DO. There is
no fair -minued person who will not
agree with us that we have done cv.
crythirg iii our power to have an adj
judiCnCiOn by the courts of this case,
and that there isnO other conclusion o