The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-13
MUST SHOW HIS HAND.
yHy xf6 no 7Esr PkIzE-rIGHT 10
81 BELD MONDAY.
And The Governor will he Forced to Act
The City Recorder Issaes the Licenses
for Both Contests.

JACKSONVILLE, RIA Jan az
echt between the Duvsl Athletic Club ana
enc Governor is rapidly nearing that stage
..h.ro sornc more powerful weapons than
,,o,ds viii have 20 be used-that is unless
b., s,o,ia develop that each party to the
,,utro,crsy has only been engaged IN
,iy eamc OF bluff. SO far the contest be-
.,.cn the club and the Governor has been
,.,se1 entirely with jaws, but next Mon
ds, nieht some other weapon viii have
Il, ne uscd by the Governor II the pro-
motors OF prize lights in this state are 10
boz downed. ~.
.od Watkins. the negro pugilists, are
,incs 10 fcht at the opera-house, IN TINS
'l,v under articles Of agreement Identical
LIN those signed by Corbett and Mitchell
s,r thclr proposed match on January 18th.
.-,e citv licenses for the fight between
Inc negroes and for that between the
i,aciishxnan and the Californian have been
ieeued and are now In the hands OF the
respcctlve applicants-George Siler ana
the Duvai Athletic Club.
Yhe licenses which were issued by the
city to-day granting Official PERMISSION :"
George Sller and the Duval Atnle'c ~
20 hold these contests are VIZ -
,,O,s and signed by the reCoIdef' -.
~, en-. confederation OF the sum or S-5
la IN the collector OF taxes, the p"'a.
.,l.t,c club for James }. cOrpett anu
,,rl.a Mitchell Is hereby licensed 10
,..,nace the business or occupation Oh IN
,tsfti.n o! skill in boxing or glove con-
80. Tor the period commtLcinS Thurs
t,v January IS. 1894. and enning lhurS-
Az January -. 1894. 10 be cerricd on AT
I'm. Fair Grounds building, Wllhih the
fty. 60.
o. the match between the negroes Is
tened bv George Siler. q Chicago news
n.n.r man now in the city. IL Is the gen
eral belief that he Is simply acting for the
Duval Athletic club. The club hopes that
,ie contest between the negroes Will force
The Governor 10 show his hand So Tar
the club has been handicapped by ignor-
ance OF the methods which the Governor
proposes 10 use TO stop the CorDett-Ahtch-
ell mill. They hope that the match pc
tween the negroes will clear up this point
As has been stated in these dispatches
the licenses are issued under the oidl-
nance recently passed by the City Council
over Mayor Fletcher's veto legalizing
glove contests" in jacksonville. Govern
or Nitchelrs contention has been that prize
fights are violative Of the laws OF Florida.
II this contention be true. the issuance Of
the licenses for the matches amounts TO
ne<hins for the ordinance under which
the permits were issued Is null and void.
as the city Council has no right to pass
laws which are in antagonism 10 the stat
uts= Of the state.
But the courts have not yet passed on
the Governors contention that prize fights
are illegal in this state. and the club
hopes that the match between the negroes
viii bring the controversy % an issue
May simplify Matters.
m the negroes should be arrested Mon
day night and released by the Jackson
willie courts the club people think that
they VIII have plain sailing for the Cor
lctt-MtChcll match. as the State cannot
appeal 20 the Supreme Court. the right
az appeal in criminal cases lying only
with The defendant.
The Governor. however. has repeatedly
announced that he viii regard no decision
in the matter save one from the Supreme
court, and even II affairs 30 as the club
people hope In the case of the negroes
the action Of Governor Mitchell i'm regard
10 the Corbett-Mitchel mill Will stD be
predetermined.
Manager Bowden ana the rest Of the
club members this morning spoke with
the utmost unconcern regarding the visit of
the State Guard officers 10 this city last
night. and one of the prominent promo
ters Of the contest said.
we don't care In the least what con-
ferenccs arc held between the Governor
and the military authorities. We will
have this contest. and the militia will not
interfere"
Manager Bowdcn Yesterday wired the
Governor for permission to publish all the
correspondence that passed between the
executive and the club in regard "a the
proposed fight. but 80 far no answer has
been received.