The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-03-06
CORBETT ON TRIAL.
CHAMPION JIM PLEADS NOT GUILT
TO- THE CHARGE.
Charley Mitchell on the Ground ana ne VIII
be Tried If Corbett ia COnvicted-Ihe
Proceedings are on - Tarcicai Order'

Charles Mitchell on the 25th of last jan
uary If Corbett is found guilty, then NIL
chelI will be tried. and after the English
man has been disposed of, }. H. /. boWdeh'
late manager of the DuVal Clup, Harry
Mason, of the Athletic Club; ice NendiS
and Louis Sihler will be tried on charge
of aiding and abetting the fight.
The court opened at $3.50 o'clock this morn
ing and long before that time. there was
a large crowd of people gathered about the
courthouse.
Corbett arrived at the courthouse about
9 O. clock accompanied by his manager, Will
lam A. Brady. a majority of the people
about the courthouse were either sports
or those who like to follow in the wake of
the sporting gentry When Corbett arriv-
ed and pushed through the crowd, he was
slightly cheered. At $50 O'Clock, Judge
Phillips arrived. and court was called 10
order Just after the judge had taken ms
seat the bench. Mitchell accompanied
by his manager, Billy Thompson, arrived
They took seats near Corbett ana brady-
The work of empaneling a jury was then
begun. This was the occasion CT much
sparrinS between the attorneys. one side
or the other Directing to nearly every can
didate for the jury box. Finally the six
men, that number only being required by
the Florida law in misdeneanor cases,
were secured. Two of the jurors are ne
iroes and four of them from the ru-
raj districts of Duval county.
At this point. court adjourned for dinner
When court reconvened in the afternoon,
the examination of witnesses was begun
Sheriff BroWard, City Attorney Bars, Judge
Baker and many others were introduced by
the state. They all testified as to events
preceding the fight and as to what happen
ed in the arena the day of the hSht
The state established the fact that the fight
was by ''preViCuS appointment, d contest
forbidden by Florida law, but did not fare
so well when attempt was made TO
establish malice.
The witnesses all testified that Corbett
seemed good natured during the three
rounds save al one time and that was when
he fouled Mitchell.
Jim is Not Guilty.
Jacksonville. Fla, March 1.-Once more
the prize fignters have gone up against the
peace ana dignity OF the state OF
FIor.ua as Governor Mitchell would phrase
il, and once more the peace ana dignity
mas been knocked out in snort order
at SOL oclocN this afternoon the jury IN
the case against james }. Cofbett, cnarSed
with violating the laws of Florlua by en-
gaglng Il pr.Ze fight, retired To MAKE up
u verdict. AC 4Ul, or sixteen minutes later
the jury returned and the foreman handed
We, the jury. find the defendant not
guilty"
as ne heard these reassuring words and
the sports VINO crowded the courtroom
would have cheered had they not been in
formed by Judge Phillips when the jury
came in that he would send any person to
jail for contempt who dared to express
audible approval or disapproVal OF the
verdict.
Charley Mitchell present when the
verdict was announced and he leaned over
and grasped Corbett by the hand and
whispered congrat ulations. Mitchell, of
course considered the verdict in the light
of a practical acquttal for himself, as a
case against him of a similar nature is
pending There were four women in the
courtroom 1t the time: two ct them In efII1
they braved the wrath of Judge Phillips to
the extent OF airily waving their hands to
The impression here is that the whole
thing has been farce. The witnesses for
down ard the defense had the easiest
sort of walk over
VIII he NoIIe Pressed.
Late tonight Attorney General Lamar
ell stating that he had no further instruc-
tons ana that further proceedings would
the members of the Athletic Club will be
nolle pressed This action will probably
be taken in the morning.
- Gh..lly j. fiappy.
Jacksonville Fla, March 1.-The attorney
general this morning nolle pressed the case
against Charles Mitchell for lighting by
previous appointment and also the cases
Cor aiding and abettinG fight by previous
appointment.
This action was taken in accordance with
the verdict of acquttal rendered by the
j..ry in the COrbett case yesterday.
Cnrbett on His Way to New York
Champion Jim Corbett passed through
Atlanta last Sunday ell route to New York
Corbett and Brady came up from New
Orleans on the Vestlbuled, reaching the city
d little after IL O'Clock, ana remained until
the Richmond and Danvlle solid vestibuIed
train went out for the east, when they left
for New York, where Corbett viii rest
day or two before going on with his theatre
cal work.
What Of your engagement with Jackson,
the negro"
"Weil, ] have no doubt as to the result if
that is what you mean. We are signed to
fight and ! am anxious for the meeting,
more 50 tn any meeting | have ever had
] know that | can whip him, and then,
less | change my mind. shall retire from
the ring Tor all time. / have shown what
l can do and have never met a man as
Good as jackson, so / am anxious to touch
him. If | whip him / will he satisfied
that l the best in the country and will
l have said"
who, in your opinion, is the best man
you have ever metz was asked OF the
jackson gave me the longest and hardest
fight | ever had. but when il comes down
to the hardest fight of my life l think it
was the one with the OLD champion, John
Ia SULLIVAN. L won tndL l2nt. 1t is true,
but there was not a minute of the time
that L was not over ANXIOUS about the re-
suit. 1t is true that T never had any idea
that | would lose the t@ht, but at the same
time | was on the guard and more watch
full than | have ever been. Why, from the
minute | signed the articles to FIGHT Sulli-
van felt sure of winning, but at the Same
time / realized that | had a lard task and
that L could take no chances on the re-
suits. That's what [ mean when
| say that may have
been q little over anxious"
do YOU think you will ever come against
Sullivan again?"
II can't say, but I think not. As | have
said. unless [ change my mind [ don't
think I'll ever enter the ring again after
1 meet Jackson. If, however. 1 do 1 may
give Sullivan the chance he says lie wants.
l ain not sure though that Sullivan wants
that chance. He is one of the best men in
the world, and Ia do anything | could TO
accommodate him
"And YOU, think you can best the negro,
Jackson?'
81 have doubt about the result when
we meet. l gave him all he could stand
when he a much better man tnan he
is now, and l don't see now I could do
worse at this stage of the game"
''You and Mitchell are now good fricrds:''
''Oh yes. We have settled the little differ
ences between us, and there is no reason
why we should not be friends
In Ohio.