The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-10
MAHER SHARKEY FREED.
The Magistrate Gould See No Viola
ton of Law in Their Case.

New York June 1O-Peter Maher and
Thomas Shar6ey, the heavy weight pug
lists who We're arrested last night dur
ing their fight at the Palace Athletic
club were discharged by Magistrate
Cornell in the Harlem police court to-
day.
The magistrate admitted that the con-
duct OF the men in the seventh round
might have been disorderly and said he
was glad they had been locked up but
that as far as he could see, there had
been no violation of the Horton law.
The first to arrive in court was the
Maher party The crowd on the street
greeted Maher with a cheer. Soon after
Sharkey and his friends made their ap-
pearance. They received a reception
similar to that of Maher. The two pug
lists did not seem to pay much atten-
ton to one another. There was not,
however, the slightest evidence of i'll
feeling.
The case being called Magistrate Cor
nell invited Inspector Mclaughlin to
tell him all about the case The in
spector said he believed the law was
violated by the men last night. There
was slugging and knocking down and
he believed it was his duty to stop
them. Magistrate Cornell interjected
that a good many things happened at
performance of that kind that would
not look we'll at a o'clock tea.
The inspector insisted that there was
slugging, brutal pounding and knock
ing down. If that did not constitute
prize fight he did not know what did.
Magistrate Cornell stated that he had
read the account of the fight and while
he believed the Inspector was perfectly
right in separating and arresting the
men, he did not think they could strict
ly be held for taking part in a prize
fight.
Counsel for Sharkey claimed there
was no violation SO far as the sparring
contest went and there would have
been none to the end.
Counsel for Maher remarked that As
sembIynan Horton was at the contest
a Or q
formance was perfectly legal up to the
seventh round. The inspector stated
that he went to the dressing room of
the men before they entered the ring
and read the law to them and told them
there must be no slugging. Here Mag
istrate Cornell interpOsed: Il think
you did right inasmuch as the men were
disorderly. But you must understand
that they received much encourage
ment The public had apparently eX-
pressed great interest in what they
much interested themselves. They are
big, powerful men and presuma bly, high
tempered 1t is not to be wondered al
If they lost their heads. On that ground
an arrest was warranted if they act dis
orderly. I am glad they were locked up
and would have been glad had they
But I will not entertain a complaint of
prize fighting against them. I think
they are within the law"
Turning to Maher and Sharkey. who
stood side by side before him. Magis-
trate Cornell said: Maher and Sharkey.
you are discharged" Then there was a
quick clearing out Of the court room
and a crowd of admirers escorted the
pugilists to the Third Avenue cable
cars.
It was noticed that as far as appear
ance of the men went. there had been
no slugging. One of Maher's eyes was
bloodshot, but his friends said that was
a constitutional affection. There was a
little scratch behind Sharkey's left ear,
but that his seconds said was there a
week ago.