The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-01-16
he MAY BE BLUFFING.
Governor Mitchell Is Said to Admit
That He Cannot Iutcrfere


Tallahassee, Fla, January S-(Snecial y
There is Il well founded report here tonight
that Governor Mitchell in private admits
that there is no law on the Florida statute
DOCKS under which o boxing glove contest
can be prevented. especially in a city where
there is is an ordinance in force which IL
cenSe5 such exhibitions and gives them po-
lice protection.
Jacksonville man very close to the
DuVal club men and TO the governor as
well, has written friend here that Govern
or Mitchell had abandoned all hope of stop
ping the fight between Corbett and Mitchell
and that his only purpose now is to keep
uD a big bluff about interference. so as
to prevent the sale of seats and so knock the
DuVal club out of all profits if possible
and put it in a hole financially so as to
discourage any further ventures of this kind
in the state
The DuvM club men are very iublant to-
night, so special from jacksonville saws
and one of them wired friend here TO-
night to bet all the money that he could
raise that the fight would be pulled off in
Jacksonville.
ROASTING Governor Mitchell
Jacksonville. Fla, January 9-The mana
gers of the Duval Athletic Club set a snare
for their enemy, Governor MITCHELL TODAY.
into which they hope he will fall and there
by give them an opportunity to test the
Florida law in relation to - ize fights. The
snare in question is the arranging of q con-
test between two negro sluggers to take
place at the opera house in a few DAYS
The principles to the affair are Berry Wat
kln', a negro champion middle weight of
Florida, and Green Harris negro champion
middle weight of Tennessee. The men are
TO fight for purse of $500. and have signed
articles of agreement Identical with those
signed by COrbett and Mitchell. The r}l1r-
pose of the club is to test the sincerity Of
Governor Nttchells opposition to the Cor
bett- Mitchell mill, and also to get a de-
cision from the courts as to the law in re-
latlon 10 prize fights in this state If the
governor and the authorities of Duval coun-
ty allow the negroes to meet and slug
one another. the club people say that the
executives opposition to the proposed Coz
bett-Mitchcll fight is insincere and is die
tated by other reasons than d desire to
state"
If the authorities of the county. acting
under instructions from the governor. pre-
vent the fight and arrest the negroes. the
club managers say that they will very
courts as to whether prize fights are viola
tive of the state law. In either event the
club hopes to be winner and down the
governor.
When questioned in regard to the mill
between the negroes, the club managers
deny that they are promoting the affair.
but in sporting circles it is said that this
denlai is only made for blind, and that
Manager Bowden and others have ar
ranged for the bout between the negroes.
Governor Mitchell Alert.
Governor Mitchell, however, is watching
the course of affairs promptly and it is not
thought likely that he Will allow himself
to be trapped by the scheme. The COVER
nor, in spite Of the clubs talk about bring
ing pressure to bear on him, is showing
no signs of letting up in his opposition to
the fight. He is warning the sherilfs of |
every county in which it has been rll- !
mored that the club would attempt to |
bring Corbett and Mitchell together, to be /
on the alert to prevent the contest and if |
unable to prevent it with the forces at their |
The following correspondence between the !
governor and Sheriff Perry, Of ST. Johns
county, where rumor has it that the club
has decided to attempt to bring about the
fight. shows how vigilant the governor is
and how determined he is to checllma te the
club. The governors .etter TO Sheriff
Perry is follows:
state Executive Department. Tallahas-
see, Fla, January Sc. J. Perry, SheY.1
If st. Johns County. F.a., st. Augustine
Dear Sir: / see by the papers that James
J. Corbett and Charles Mitchell. who pro-
lose TO disgrace Florida by one of their