St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-03
sTEAMBoATMEN WANT $4,000
FROM THE GOVERNOR AND
OTHER CITIZENS
WHO STOPPED A PRIZE FIGHT
OR, RATHER, INTERFERED WITH
THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR
BOXING CONTEST.
THEY DID NOT LIKE ARREST,
Even If They Were Locked Up on
Sunday, but $4,000 Each Will
SOOthe Their Wounds.

Gov. David NJ. Clough, D. r. Noyes,
Filford L. Wilson and Tams Bixby have
been made defendants in three damage
suits, aggregating $4,000, in conse-
auence Of the arrests made to stop the
Moore-Needham prize fight last fall.
The plaintiffs in the actions are Ariah
J. Bosley, John c. Smith and P. F.
Ritchie. Smith and Bosley are captain
and engineer on one of the boats that
1t was suspected was to be used to
convey the crowd to the point at which
the fight was to take place, and Richie
was captain of the other. The fight
was to come off on Sunday, but it will
be remembered that the two principals
We're arrested the day before and placed
under bonds to keep the peace. Not
withstanding this however, a large
crowd gathered at the foot of Jackson
street Sunday in anticipation of an eff
fort to pull the fight off, anyhow, and
the upshot was the arrest of the three
persons who bring the present actions.
The complaints allege that on Oct. IL
last defendant Wilson filed a complaint
with the clerk of the municipal court,
charging Smith, Bosley and Richie
the prize and ring fight referred to, by
agreeing to convey persons to the place
OF the fight; that warrants were accord
tngly issued for their arrest, and on the
following day, Sunday, they were taken
into custody and kept in Jail six hours;
that owing to the fact that it was the
Sabbath day they could not furnish bail,
and would have been compelled to re-
main in Jail until Monday were it not
that the sheriff, on his own responsible
ity, allowed them to go on the promise
that they would appear in court next
day.
They then go on to allege that the
four defendants met in the Office of the
governor and combined and conspired
to nave the arrests made; that Noyes,
Wilson and BiXby, with the full knowl-
cage, consent and connivance of Clough,
consplred at other times and places
with a view to having the arrests made,
ana that it was, in pursuance Of this
conspiracy that Wilson swore out the
warrants. 1t is charged that the de-
PENDANTS We're actuated by malice, and
had the arrests made on Sunday for the
purpose of keeping plaintiffs in Jail I'M
Needham were both under heavy bonds.
and therefore that no fight could take
place.
When plaintiffs came up for trial In
the municipal court on Oct IA their
cases were continued until the 23d. at
winch time they We're dismissed. 1t is
charged that in the meantime the de-
PENDANTS allowed themselves to be in
reviewed, and gave out for publication
information that was detrimental to the
pIalntlifs, which was widely circulated
TO the great injury Of the fair names
ana flames of the plaintiffs. For all of
Whlch they think they are entitled to
damages in the sum of $25 coo apjece
The papers in the suit were served on
the defendants yesterday, Secretary
BlXby ackn owledging service blandIy,
anu immediately placing himself in
communication with Attorney General
ChlldS, to ascertain whether or not the
ueIense OF the suit would devolve upon
that official. There seemed to he a
chance for difference of opinion as to
mat, the suit being brought against
the gentlemen as individuals, and NOT
pv virtue of their office, although the
sclioh ot GOV. Clough, at least, was in
t e PEf2orin 2nHe of his official duties, so
lar as relating to the arrest of the
p!alntlffs. The giving of libelous inter
views II established, might be shown
10 De without the province of the COVER
nor of1cial duties, and it is oroba bIv
on ttSs basis that the suit is BROUGHT
Iatnef than on damages for the arrest
OF itself. Attorney General Chjlds did
not bubble over fine law POINTS, how
ever and it is probable that he will an.
pear Ter two of the defendants. if the
case ever comes to trial.