The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-01
CORBETT AGAIN IN COURT.
Local Sports Turn Out to The Opening
Of His Trial.

Two of the Six Jurors Negroes From
the Country-Mitchen Not Apt to be
Arraigned if Corbstt is Not Con-
victed-Corbett's Acquittal Looked
For-Certain Phases of the Trial
SAVIOR of the Farcical.
jacksonville. Fla. Feb. 2S-Champion
James J. Corbett is now on trial before
Judge Phillips in the criminal court of
this city for engaging in that prize fight
with Charles Mitchell on Jan. p last If
Corbett is found guilty then Mitchell will
be tried, and, after the Englishman has
been disposed of, j. F. T. Bowden. late
manager of the Duval Athletic Club;
Harry Mason. president of the Athletic
Club; Joe Vendig and Louis Sihler will
be tried on charge of aiding and abetting
the fight
The court opened at $3.50 o'clock in the
morning, and long before that time there
was large crowd of people gathered
about the courthouse COrbett arrived at
the courthouse about 8 O'Clock, accom-
panied by his manager, William A.
Brady. A majority of the people about
the courthouse were either sports, or
these who like to follow in the wake of
the sporting gentry. When Corbett ar
was slightly cheered.
At $3.50 o'clock Judge Phillips arrived
and court was called to order Just after
the Judge had taken his seat on the bench,
Mitchell. accompanied by his manager,
Billy Thompson, arrived. They took
seats near Corbett and Brady.
John f. Hartridge attorney for the
club. here rose and stated that he waived
the arraignment of Corbett, and entered
plea of not guilty.
THE CHARGE AGAINST CoRBETT.
Solicitor Christie then announced that
Corbett would be tried on the following
information:
In the criminal court Of record OF the county
OF Duval and state Of Florida, February
term, in the year OF our Lord. 1894 the state
of Florida vs.. James J. Corbett, informR-
ton for engaging in a fight.
In the name and by the authority OF the
state Of Florida, J. B. Christie, county solici-
tor for the county of Duval prosecuting for
the state OF Florida IN the said county, under
oath information makes that one J. j. Cor
bett, late Of the county of Duval and state OF
Florida, on the 25th day OF January, In
the year of our Lord, 1894. In the
county and state aforesaid, then and
there, by and in pursuance Of previous ap-
pointment and arrangement, made TO meet
and engage in a fight with another person.
TO wit: with Charles Mitchell did then and
there meet and engage in a fight with the
said Charles Mitchell, and did then and there
beat, bru1se, wound and i'll treat: and your IN
formant, Aforesaid, upon his oath aforesaid,
further information makes that the
said James j. Coroett aforesaid. late OF
the county and state aforesaid, on the
day and date aforesaid, in the manner and
form aforesaid, In and upon the said Charles
Mitchell aforesaid an assault did make; and
him, the said Charles Mitchell did then and
there beat bruise, wound. and ill-treat, con
Tary to the form OF the statute in such case
made and provided, and against the peace
ana dignity of the state OF Florida.
THE JURY SECURED.
The work of impanelling Jury was
then begun. This was the occasion of
much sparring between the attorneys,
one side or the other Directing to nearly
every candidate for the jury box. FL
nally the six men. that nun Der only being
required by the Florida law in misde-
meanor cases, were secured. Two Of the
Jurors are negroes and four of them are
from the rural districts of Duval county.
At this point court adjourned for din
ner .....
When court reconvened in the after
noon 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 happened in the
arena on the day of the fight. The
state established the fact that the fight
was by previous appointment contest
forbidden by Florida law, but did not
fare so well when an attempt was made
to establish malice. The witnesses all
testified that Corbett seemed good
natured during the three rounds, save at
one time, and that was when he fouled
Mitchell
When court adjourned in the afternoon
the state still had several witnesses to
examine. 1t is understood that Richard
X. Fox, of New York, will be the only
witness offered by the defense He will
be introduced as an expert to prove that
glove contests cannot be brutal
The trial will be concluded tomorrow.
Attorney-General Lamar, while not
taking an active part in the trial, is here
watching the interests of the state.
The impression left by to-day's develop
ments is that conviction is impossible. In
fact, there were certain phases of the
trial to-day that savOred of the farcical
II, however, conviction is secured, the
cases will go TO Judge Call on appeal, and
In him the sports feel that they have a
friend 81 court.
Corbett went over to St. Augustine to-
night, where he will give an exhibition.
He will return in the morning