St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-03
MITCHELL is A COWARD.
HIS ALL=GgO ANXIETY TO MEET TIE
AMERICAN CT. MPi5H
WAS A BARE FACED EEUrF.

He Eas No Desire to Meet COrbett,
ana Has Crawied Out OF Il Very
Small Role-.The Duval Club
Roasts the Englishman in SUI
pnurous Style - Militia Will
Be Called Out.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Jan. e--The
largest kind of 4 bomb was exploded III
the camp of the DUval Athletic club
today
a large crowd surrounded the court
house today, waiting chance
to SEE the two ring champions.
who were expected to appear.
When the case was called neither man
responded. Judge Christie, county So
licitor, arose and stated that no evil
dence had been found in the case, and
moved the release of the men from their
bonds. As this was the only thing to
be done. Curbett and Mitchell were de-
clared free men.
The next case was then called. and
those Interested i'll the puslliSts flied
slowly Oat of the room. At first they
did not fully understand the purport of
Judge ChriStie'S action. but when they
learned that the fight had received a bad
setback, they were exceedingly angry
with those instrumental i'll securing
the dropping of the case. The officials
of the club have not as yet decided what
course to pursue. They remain firm in
their statements, however, that the bat
tie Will take place rs advertised, despite
the odds they are lighting against
Charley Mitchell has shown
THE WHITE FEATHER
or something that very much resembles
that article despised by all lovers of the
prize ring. Despite his alleged consum-
ing desire to face Corbett i'll the arena,
the developments of today seem to indi-
cate that the EngliShman is ready to
squeeze through any loOphole to escape
meeting the champion of America.
That, and not the alleged Knockout OF
the Duval Athletic CLUB by Gov.
Mitchell in the courts here this MORN
ing, is the real sensation of the day in
sporting circles. After Solicitor Chris
tie, under coercion from the governor.
refused TO have anything to do with
the test case brought by the ath-
Ietic club by which the promoters
of the contest hoped to have the Flor
ida law relating to prize fights settled SO
as to preclude the possibility of any in
reference on the day set for the fight,
the managers of the club began casting
about for ways and means TO pull OFF,
the affair in spite of the governor aid
the courts.
Manager Bowden, of the club. sent
Harry Mason over to st. Augustine TO
see Mitchell and induce him to sign
amended articles of agreement. The
original articles. at Mltchel's
suggestion, provided that the
light should occur "within two
miles of the city of Jacksonville,:'
The club today wished to change the
clause so as to have it read that the fight
should occur within the state of Florida.
The purpose OF the club was that it
might agree to select place i'll the state
for the contest where it was least likely
there would be interference on the part
OF the authorities.
When the situation of affairs was eX-
plained To Mitchell, and he was asked
TO attlX his signature 10 the amended
articles Of agreement, he
FIATLY REFUSED TO SIGN.
lie said that he would never put his
name to the paper unless the site for
the contest was definitely fixed.
Harry Mason urged and eXpostu-
lated with The Englishman, telling
him that the change was simply one
of precautien in view of the governors
hostile attitude, but to no avail. Mitch
ell absolutely refused to sign, and
Harry Mason returned to Jacksonville.
1t should be remembered that
the original articles stipulated that
the fight should occur within the
state of Florida" This was changed
10 "within two miles of the city of
Jacksonville" at Mitche1l's suggestion.
1t looks now as though Mitchell never
really desired 10 go up against the
American champion, and taking ad-
vantage OF the difficulties under which
the club is laboring, owing to the
hostile attitude of the state authorities,
desires to "crawfiSh." The man.
ayers of the athletic club are in
state Of mind tonight, and are roasting
the EngIishman III suIphurous stvle.
Manager Bowden SAID tonight to the
Associated Press representative that he
would go over to ST. Augustine tomor-
row, taking along the representative of
the Associated Press. and force Mitchell
10 sigh the amended articles, or brand
MIN TO the world as having shown the