Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29
POLICE DO NOT WANT HIM NOW
Jack Felrs Arrest for Prize Fighting Comes
Too Late.
IS BEING HELD IN CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIA
Hard Mill Fought Twelve Years Ago
with Shooting on the Returns
ing Excursion Trnin-Of-
Tense Outlawed.

Chlef OF PONCE Slgwart from the sheriff Of
Sacramento county, California, is likely to
call up recollections In the minds of the
older residents of the city, and especially of
those who twelve years ago could be dubbed
sports. The letter simply makes the an
nouncement that Jack Fell has been arrested
in Sacramento and is being held for the
Omaha police.
Jack Fell was the principal in one of the
hardest and toughest prize fights ever pulled
off in the vicinity of this city. He was a
coal miner of Missouri and had attained a
considerable reputation in the west, because
he would rather fight than eat. His first in
PRODUCTION to Omaha was in a glove contest
with a reputed hard man named Smith at
the Academy Of Music. He knocked Smith
out in four rounds, and consequently made a
favorable impression upon the Omaha fra
ternity.
There was at that time another prize
fighter of repute in the west, a man who had
lived for some time in Omaha, Jack Hanley.
Hanley at the time was in Colorado. but he
readily enough agreed to fight Fell. The ar
rangements for the mill were placed In the
hands OF Jack Nugent, manager of the old
st. Elmo on Twelfth, between Dodge and
Douglas streets, and Baby Barnes, a huge
pugillst and strong man who died several
years ago. A purse of $500 was made up and
III was determined TO pull the fight off on
the morning of May 10.
The Omaha authorities refused to allow
the fight to come off in the city and in con-
sequence there was a lively skirmish upon
the part Of the management to find a suitable
place. 1t was finally chosen, but there were
only a few on the excursion train that
pulled out of the depot on the Union Pacific
at 2 o'clock on the morning of May 10 who
knew where the train would stop. At s
o'clock the chosen spot, a bit of low land
in Saunders county, a mile from the Platte,
was reached and there the ring was pitched.
1t was a motley crowd that piled off the
train. There were in the lot a number of
the business men and reputable citizens of
sporting proclivities, but the majority of the
crowd consisted of thieves and criminals.
A majority of the latter had placed their
money on Fell, but Hanley was well sup
ported and there was every prospect that
trouble would ensue before the fight was
over. "
The mill was a hot one and lasted for
twenty-five rounds. 1t was then awarded to
Fell on a foul. Despite the decision it is said
that it was never decided which was the
best man. Hanley claimed that he fouled
purposely to lose the fight, because he was
afraid that he would be killed If he won.
Fell's Supporters alleged that their man won
on his merits.
Such was the fight, but 1t was not a cir
cumstance, to what occurred when the train
was returning to the city. The crowd on
board was tough in every sense of the word.
The Fell element crowded and the Hanley
element was sore. Several alterations oc-
Cured as the train pulled out. but the serious
trouble did not begin until Waterloo was
reached. At that point Solly Marks quar-
relied with an acquaintance. Revolvers
were drawn and a scene of confusion ensued.
Men jumped from the train while 1t was run
ming fifteen to twenty miles ans hour.
The fight centered in a group of a dozen
men who occupied the middle of one of the
aarS Pistol shots were hRa r1 at franuapt
intervals. Some one pulled the bell cord
and when the train stopped the fight closed.
Four men were found to have been shot,
] one of them being Marks. They were left
I, on the train and the ride to Omaha was
continued without further trouble. The po-
lice had been notified of the ARRAY and a
squad Of officers. one of them Chief OF
Police Sigwart, who was then a patrolman,
awaited its arrival at the depot. When 1t
pulled in, however, II was found to be empty,
the passengers having alighted at South
Omaha and other places to avoid arrest.
Fell and Hanley were arrested and charged
with prize fighting. Hanley was convicted
and was sentenced to the penitentiary for a
term of three years. After his sentence
expired he returned to the city and ran a
gymnasium for a year and then left. When
he was last heard of he was a member of
the police force at Detroit.
Fell was more fortunate. He escaped be-
fore his trial, but was captured again in
Missouri. He once more escaped and was
recaptured in Detroit. Before the warrant
for him arrived he once more escaped, and
since that time he has kept out Of the way
OF the authorities until arrested In Sacra-
mento. He made his way to Canada, and
has been heard of In Montana, but beyond
that no definite knowledge of his where
aboutg was ever obtained.
Marks, the man who began the fight on
the train, is also gone. He was arrested
five years ago in Memphis for burglary.
NTbfla his trial in thn onurf xtan In
progress a woman who passed as his wife,
shot him dead.
Chief Of Police Sigwart has notified the
Sacramento authorities that Fell is not
wanted here. He was indicted for a felony,
but the charge has been outlawed long ago.