The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-11
LAW WAS NOT VIOLATED
SHARKEY AND MAHER WE'RE NOT
GUILTY OF PRIZE FIGHTING.
Both Discharged by Magistrate Cor
neII-MayOr Strong Responsible for
Stopping the ."MiII.''

NEW YORK, June 10.-Peter Maher and
Tom Sharkey, the heavyweight pugilists
who were arrested last night during their
fight at the Palace Athletic Club were dis
charged by Magistrate Cornell in the Har-
lem Police Court to-day. The magistrate
admitted that the conduct of the men in
the seventh round might have been disor
derby and said he was glad they had been
locked up, but that nevertheless, so far as
he could see, there had been no violation
of the Horton law.
The first to arrive in court was the Nah
er party. The crowd on the street greeted
Maher with a cheer. Soon after Sharkey
and his friends appeared. They received
a reception similar to that of Maher The
two pugilists did not seem to pay much at
tention to one another. There was not,
however the slightest evidence of ill-feel-
ing. The case being called, Magistrate
Cornell invited Inspector Mclaughlin to
tell him all about the affair. The inspector
said he believed the law was violated by
the men last night. There was smuggling
and knocking down, and he believed it his
duty to stop them. Magistrate Cornell in
teriected that a good many things hap
pened at performance of that kind that
would not look we'll at a 3 o'clock tea. The
inspector insisted THAT IutI6 was oluSSlilS,
brutal pounding and knocking 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 ar
resting the men, he did not think they
could strictly be held for taking part in a
prize fight.
was no violation so far as the sparring con-
test and there would have been none TO
the end. Counsel for Maher remarked that
Assemblyman Horton was at the contest
himself last night and he said the contest
perfectly legal up to the seventh
round.
dressing room of the men before they en-
tered the ring and read the law to them
and told them there , must DC no siagelng e
think you did right inasmuch as they were
disorderly But you must understand that
they received much encouragement The
public had apparently expressed great in
terest in what they were about to do They
were very much interested themselves.
They were big powerful men and presum-
ably high tempered 1t is not to be Won
dered at il they lost their heads. On that
ground an arrest was warranted II they
acted disorderly. I am glad they We're
locked up and would have been glad had
they been forced to stay all night in the
jail But I will not entertain complaint
of prize fighting against them. L think
they are within the law.
Turning to Maher and Sharkey, who
stood side by size before INN. 4ldSlSIIdlt
Cornell said: "Maher and Sharkey, you are
discharged" Then there was quick clear
ing out of the courtroom and crowd of
admirers escorted the pugiltstS to the
Third-avenue cable cars.
1t was noticed that as far as the appear
ance of the men went, there had been no
smuggling One of Makers eyes was some
what bioodshot, but his friends said that
was a constitutional afiction. There was
a little scratch behind Sharkeys left ear,
but that, his seconds said, was there
week ago.
Mayor Strong's hand was probably seen
in the action of the police stopping the
fight last night. II am opposed to the Hor-
ton law" he said this morning, and gave
orders to Chief Conlin to see that there
was no prize fighting permitted: know
il is hard at times to distinguish scientific
sparring from prize fighting, but ] believe
that the police exercised good judgment.
Sullivan Challenges Fitz.