The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-23
The Referee Demands the Money After
Visiting Corbett and Mitchell and
the Club Promises 1t.
MAYOR FLETCHER SPEAKS
He Will Do Nothing to Prevent
the Fight in the Arena.
Injunction Proceedings Against the
Governor Begun-The State Militia
to Be OH Hand To-Day.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Jan. 22.-If ever
there was a string on the purse check Of
$4,000 offered Corbett and Mitchell by the
Duval Athletic Club, the string is now cut
and the cash before high noon tomorrow
will be In the hands of referee Kelly.
The wind has again shifted and Mitchell
has changed his attitude and declares that
he will fight, and fighting will win. Hon
est John Kelly, accompanied by Jimmy
Colville, of Boston, and a party Of sports,
to-day went to the training quarters of
the English champion and after a long
confab Kelly and his party returned TO
Jacksonville, convinced that Mitchell was
sincere, was anxious TO fight, was not suf-
fering from a sprained ankle and had no
idea of wriggling out of the fight. Kelly
had gone to Mitchell on the same errand
which had carried him to the Corbett camp
at Mayport, o n Sunday. Charley" said
the big New York sportsman, Il have the
clubs certified check for $4,000. l under
stand tina you do not care to contest for
the purse in that shape"
That mar Bowden, who has had this affair
in charge" said Mitchell, has not got
brains enough to get a good headache. 1t
is no more than proper 10 demand this.
There is nothing unfair in the demand.
Now, 1 will tell you what l will do. If you
say SO, if you think that the check Is good
and will not be stopped, if you think that
l ought TO do so, / will fight Corbett for
that scrap of paper that you have just
shown me. Now, 1t lies with you. l Will go
into the ring and fight on your assurance
that the money will be there If 1 win. You
can act for me in the matter, and what
ever you say, 1 Will back up"
IF 1 should then demand the cashing or
the check, or satisfy myself that there Is
some valid reason why it should stand as
1t is asked Kelly, lit will be approved by
your
yes" answered Mitchell, shaking Kelly
by the hand; whatever you decide will be
satisfactory to me-"
" did not take Kelly long to make up his
mind what to do in the matter. Corbett
and Mitchell had both agreed TO leave the
matter In his hands, and he acted immedi-
ately in the furtherance of the trust I'M
posed. When he stepped off the cars here
he made a straight line for the clubs
rooms. President Mason was there. MA
son." said Kelly, the men have agreed that
l shall decide the matter of this check. I
want you to take 1t up and give me the
money by 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
Vi Il Clldll oolA III $1,000 ~ $500 'F
ter and declare the fight off. 1 will listen
to no argument why this should not be
done. because there is no good one against
II. You must hand over the cash at the
hour of 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. If
you do not l will order the men home and
call the fight off,"
THE CLUB GIVES IN.
This scared Mason. and in all haste he
sent out after his brothers Of the directory.
Garrison, Smith, Vendig, Sihler and Cain
answered the but Bowden was
nowhere to be found. The matter was sub
mitted to those present, and all voted 70
turn over to Kelly the 5000 O in cash. This
was at $50, and Kelly was asked to come
back at $50 this evening. Mason promised
to have Bowden there then. The meeting
reconvened at $50 o'clock. with every men,
Der OF the club present. Kelly stated again,
for the edi1cation of Mr.. Bowden. the prop
osition he had made in the afternoon, and
the result was unanimous TO turn the 500, 900
over TO referee Kelly by IL o'clock to-mor-
row noon.
There Is one bright executive mind i'm
the Duval Athletic Club. He is the one
optimist in its organization, and to his
suggestion is due the fact that the pugil-
list machinery is thought now to have
taken motion within lines of safety. The
new feature is legal. Entirely new counsel
have been brought into the situation, and
to-day there were several legal confer
ences. The law firm of A. W.. Cockrell &
Son was called into the case as allies of
the club. and late this afternoon a bill was
filed by the clubs counsel in the Fourth
Circuit Court of the State of Florida pray
ing for an injunction restraining the sher-
If or any Of his representatives or agents
from interfering in any way with The
proposed exhibition, from preventing any
person from entering the grounds, etc. The
bill sets forth the declarations made by
the sheriff of a purpose to take possession
of the property of the club arena etc. 1t
further sets forth that the continued re-
be g airao Iy s lms sesriH OF ms intention
sale OF tickets and the prospective success
OF a business enterprise engaged In by the
club. 1t is further stated that, in the be-
lief of the clubs officials, these threats
will continue unless an injunction shall
issue until the proposed contest or enter
interest of the club. The bill shows that
the agreement for the contest is in ac-
cordance with the city ordinance, passed
by virtue OF power granted by the Legis-
lature TO regulate and license amusements
and exhibitions; Notice was served on
the bill was filed and a hearing will be
had before Judge Call tomorrow.
THE MAYOR TALKS
In connection with this legal action are
declarations made on the subject tonight
by Mayor Fletcher, of Jacksonville. After
all the fight may be pulled off in the arena
originally built by the club. The Mayor de-
clared tonight TO an Associated Press cor
respondent that the city had passed an
ordinance permitting such contests as that
proposed between Mitchell and Corbett.
and had accepted from their representa-.
tiVeS the money for the license. Under
these circumstances he believed IL to be the
duty of the city of Jacksonville to protect
the club and the fighters as far as ii can.
There has been considerable talk" said
the Mayor. about my swearing in special
policemen TO protect the fighters and seeing
that they are allowed 10 have their little
affair without molestation- l have never
done such a thing, nor viii l do it. THESE
men and The club are violating no law of
this municipality. and / have no right to
interfere with them. Neither am in any
way bound TO protect them beyond seeing
that they are allowed TO proceed under the
ordinance passed by the City Council. This
says that the chief of police must be at tie
ring side and satisfy himself that the Dar-
ties 10 the fight have q permit and that the
gloves are not less than five ounces He
VIII be at the ring if the fight comes off In
the arena, he will look at the permit and
weigh the gloves; then he will allow them
10 proceed"
in:" e '"e
That is no business of the city's. I shall
allow the men TO go ahead, but II the au-
thor1tteS OF Duval county or of the State
step IN and stop the fight Il Is no affair OF
mine. The City Council OF Jacksonville can
not, by passing an ordinance. render void
the common law which / understand Gov.
Mitchell declares will be violated. Whether
or not the law is being violated is a matter
for the courts. The city of JacksonviUe
mas nothing To do with IL and docs not vra