The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-01-17
THE GOVERNOR DEFIED.
THE DUVAL CLUB WILL FIGHT TO A
FINISH.

THE OUvAL CLUB WILL FIGHT TOA
FINISH.
Statement to the Public Guaranteeing the
Match as Advers,sed-To Test the Law
WIRE q Negro Sluesjng Match.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Jan. 9.-The
managers cf the Duyal Athletic Club
set snare for its enemy, Governor
Mitchell. today into which they hope
be VIII fall and thereby give them an
opportunity to test the Florida law IN
relation to prize fights.
The snare in question is the arrang-
ing of a contest between Two negro
sluggers to take place at the opera
house in a few days. The principals TO
the affair are Perry Watkins, 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 iden-
tical with those signed by Corbett and
Mitchell.
The purpose of the club is to test the
sincerity OF Governor Mitchells oppo-
sitlon to the Corbett- Mitchell mill and
also to get decision from the courts
as to the law in relation to prize-hghSs
in this State. If the Governor and au-
thorities of DuYal county allow the ne
groes to meet and slug one another, the
club people will say that the Execu-
.iye's opposition to the proposed Cor
bett- Mitchell fight is insincere and IS
dictated by other reasons than de-
sire to preserve the peace and dignity
of tile State" If the authorities of the
county acting under instructions from
the Governor, prevent the fight and ar
rest the negroes, the club managers
say that they will very likely be able to
secure a decision from the courts as to
whether prlZe-ights are vlolatiYe OF
the State law. In either event the
club hopes to be a winner and down the
Governor.
When questioned in regard to the
mill between the negroes the club man
ayers deny that they are promoting
the affair, but II sporting circles. 1t Is
said that this denial is only made Tor a
blind and that Manager BoWden and
others have arranged for the bout be-
tween the negroes.
The following correspondence be-
tween the Governor and Sheriff Perry
of St. Johns county, where rumor has
it the club has decided to attempt to
oring about the fight, shows how vigil
liant the Governor is and how deter
mined be is to checkmate the club.
The Governors letter to Sheriff Perry
is as follows:
Executive Department,
Tallahassee, Fla, Jan. 5, 1894.
c. J. Perry, Esq, Sheriff of st. Johns
County, Florida, St. Augustine:
Dear Sir: see by the papers that
James J. Corbett and Charles Mitchell,
who propose to disgrace Florida by
one of their brutal prize fights, have SO
amended their agreement that said
fight might take place in either Duval
or st. Johns county, and you are In
structed to prevent said contest IN st.
Johns county whether it is known or
called prize fight. glove contest. or is
known or called by any other name.
You understand the situation lp your
county, and if, in your opinion, you
will not be able to prevent said contest
with the means at your command, you
are instructed to call upon the EXecu-
tive of the State for such assistance as
you may deem necessary.
I have confidence in your lntall-
gence, and you are expected to carry
out these instructions to the letter oy
preventing the proposed contest be-
tween said parties in your county.
Very respectfully,
II. L. MITCHELL, Governor.
10 this Sheriff Perry, after consult
ing Judge w. A. Mac Williams, his at
torney, mailed on the evening of the
Sth the following reply:
Sheriff's Office, St. Johns County.
St. Augustine, Fla, Jan. Sth.
Hon. Henry T.. Mitchell, Governor OF
Florida, Tallahassee, Fla:
Dear Sir: Your communication Of
January 5th, 1894, received and the
contents duly noted, and in reply there
to would say, it is now, and always has
been my intention to uphold the law
in accordance with my oath of Office.
If it becomes necessary TO call upon
YOU for assistance to that end, l will
not hesitate 10 do so. Very respectful
]y, =. ). FERRY,
Sheriff St, Johns County.
VIM. a. Brady. who is managing
Corbett, today came up from Msyport,
where the champion is training. Ques-
toned by the Southern Associated
Press correspondent in regard to the
outlook for the fight, Brady said:
81 am strongly of the opinion that
the club people will be entirely success
full in their efforts to bring the contest
to a successful issue, and you may be
sure that our END of the affair will
give them all the support in our pow
er."
Brady was also asked about the at
tempt made by some unknown person
to enter Corbett's sleeping room, re.
ported in these dispatches last night,
but be refused to give any opinion as
to the purpose of the intruder.
The Athletic Club late tonight fur
nished to the Southern Associated
Press correspondent statement to
the public, which, after reciting the
history of the legal battle for the past
two weeks, already familiar to the pub
lie, and describing Governor MitcheA's
action, continues as follows:
This club, through its manager, com:
rouclrated with Governor M.5chell and
asked him to submit the case, with the
contracts with Corbett and Mitchell,
to the Supreme Court in fair and i'm
partial manner, and that that body be
allowed TO pass upon the same. This
the Governor refused to Go. There is
no fair-minoed person who will not
agree with US that We have done eV.
erything in our power to have an ad-
Indication by the courts OF this case,
and that there is no other conclusion 10
he arrived at except that Governor
Mitchell Is afraid to submit tue case to
the courts and we hereby, in this pub