The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-02
CORBETT NOT CONVICTED.
The Jury Brings in a Verdict Of Not
Guilty in 10 Minutes.

The Sports Who Crowded the Court
Would Have Cheered But They Had
Been Forewarned by the Judge-Four
Women in Attendanoe-Two Ao-
tresses of the After Dark Company
Waved Their Hands at the Champion
in Glee.
Jacksonville Fla, March 1.-Once
more the prize-fghters have gone up
against the peace and dignity" of the
state Of Florida, as Gov Mitchell would
phrase it, and once more the peace and
dignity" has been knocked out In short
order
AT 1851 o'clock this afternoon the Jury
in the case against James }. Corbett,
charged with violating the laws of Flor
ida by engaging in prize fight, retired 70
make up verdict. At 4;07, or sixteen
minutes later, the jury returned, and the
foreman handed the verdict to the states
attorney, who read: 1--WE the jury find
the defendant not guilty"
NO DEMONSTRATION ALLOWED.
A broad smile spread over Corbett's
face as he heard these reassuring words,
and the sports who crowded the court
room would have cheered had they not
Deen informed by Judge Phillips when
the jury came in that he would send any
person TO Jail for contempt who dared 10
express audible approval or disapproval
of the verdict.
Charlie Mitchell was present when the
verdict was announced and he leaned
over and Crasped Corbett by the hand
and whispered CONGRATULATIONS. Mitchell,
OF course, considered the verdict in the
light Of practical acquittal for himself,
as a case against him of a similar nature
is pending There were four women In
the court room at the time, two of them
members of the After Dark" Company,
ana they braved the wrath of Judge Phil
lips 10 the extent of airily waving their
hands to Corbett.
THE PRoCEEDrNds.
The proceedings leadings up to the ver-
dict were very tame. Court convened at
$3.50 o'clock, and the state resumed the
examination Of its witnesses. The attor-
neys for the prosecution tried to elicit
testimony to show that the fight was
brutal, and TO make the witnesses admit
that, from the very brutality of the
contest, Corbett and Mitchell must
have harbored malice against one
another. The state, however, did not
make much headway on this line, and IL
then attempted to bring in the check for
800 600 which COrbett received in public
after the fight. All of the witnesses had
seen piece Of paper handed Corbett, but
oil were innocent Of any knowledge of its
character.
THE CHECK.
Jack Keefe, who was chief of police
when the fight occurred and supervised 1t,
was questioned about the check. He was
at the theater when it was presented.
When asked If the paper was not check,
he said that he did not know Upon being
pressed further in regard to its being a
check, he said that he did not know, but
thought it might be a property check,
such as is used on the stage, just the
same as property" vegetables which
theatrical people make believe TO eat.
This answer caused considerable merri-
ment
The state closed here and the defense
announced that it would introduce no
witnesses
Argument was then begun. The attor-
neys were brief and when they concluded
Judge Phillips charged the jury.
THE JUDGES CHARGE.
The gist Of charge is as follows:
1t is immaterlal whether it was glove con.
test or sparring match, or boxing match
II 1t constitutes and amounts to q fight as al.
ready defined. II is a viola ZION Of the law OF
Florida against lighting by previous appoint
ment, as the court has already read. In con-
sidering the guilt or innocence OF the defend
ant under the second count OF the informa-
tion, that Is TO say. the count charging as
sault and battery, II it appears from the
evidence that the blows were given which
the parties mutally agreed upon, and
entered into and consented to, the court in
structs you that II such blows were given in
the contest, which In the course OF things
and being carried on in such manner as
would not inict or cause bodily harm or in
jury TO the person. the consent OF the person
receiving the blows excuses the assault and
battery. and the defendant, under such cir
cumstauces, cannot be found guilty OF assault
and battery. But If the contest in which the
parties engaged was Of such nature, and
being carried on in such a way as in the
usual course Of things would cause bodily
harm or injury, and the blows were given
with the intention to cause bodily harm or
appreCiable bodily pain, the consent OF the
party receiving the blows is no defense to the
charge Of assault and battery, and the party
can he convicted OF assault and battery under
snch circumstances.
With this charge the jury retired and
scon reached verdiCt of mot guilty" as
noted above.
LOOKED UPON AS A FARCE.
The impression here is that the whole
thing has been "a farce. The witnesses
for the state, TO use a sporting phrase,
fell down." and the defense had the
easiest sort OF walk over. When At
torney General Lamar was asked for an
opinion on the result of the case he
said: 1T would not be good faith for me
TO criticise the verdict"
"Will you push on the other cases nowl"
was asked
"l cannot say yet" replied the At
torney General. ~ have wired the gOver-
nor for instructions and the states course
in regard to the other cases depends on
the governors advice" Corbett left for
New Orleans tonight with the After
Dark" Company.
Mitchell is still here and will remain
until the case against him is either tried
or mol pressed.
1.-The sports feel iubilant over the out
come, and members OF the Duval Athletic
Club say they propose to pull " the Cor
bett-JacksOn mill here. They say that
the courts and people are with them, aud
that they can have a prize fight every
morning before breakfast, and another
one TO give them an appetite for supper If
they so desire.
THE GOVERNOR GIVES UP.
Late tonight Attorney General Lamar
received a telegram from Gov. Mitchell,
stating that he had no further instruc-
tions, and that further proceedings
would be left TO his (Lamar's) discretion.
This means that the cases against Mitch
ell and the mem bers Of the athletic club
will be nOlle pressed This action will