The Worcester spy., 1899-04-06
ARTICLES SIGNED.
Lawler and Sweeney
to Box Is Rounds
Patriots Day.
To WEIGH 1913 POUNDS.
The Nutmeg Athletic Club
Hangs up a 5000
Purse.

Nothing short of a sheriffs posse can
stop the boxing match between John J.
Lawler and Patsy Sweeney. William
J.. Crowley, manager of the Nutmeg
Athletic Club of Hartford, Conn, came
10 Worcester yesterday and before he
left, the hackers Of the respective box
ers had bound themselves hard and fast
TO a 15-round match ct the Nutmeg
Athletic Club the evening of Patriots
day, April 10.
AS far as Mr.. Crowley and the club
are concerned, they are not interested in
the side bet which will be posted by the
hackers of the men. The club simply
offers a purse Of 5000 for the match.
1t requires the men to sign articles Of
agreement in which the club guaran-
tees a certain amount that the hght
shall take place and in turn requires
that the men guarantee money to reach
the weight and settle the question of
supremacy in the ring without hitch.
The articles which were signed are as
follows:
Articles Of agreement entered into
this first day of April 1899, between the
Nutmeg Athletic Club of Hartford,
Conn, party of the first part, and John
J. Lawler of Worcester, Mass, and
Patsy Sweeney Of Manchester, n. H,
parties of the second part.
The parties of the second part hereby
agree to box fifteen (15) rounds, accord
ang to Marquis Of Queensberry rules,
with gloves not less than five ~ ounces
each in weight.
The contest to take place before the
Nutmeg Athletic Club of Hartford,
Conn. on the evening Of April nine
teenth C1sl, 1893.
The Nutmeg Athletic Club agrees to
pay to the winner Of the said contest
the sum of two hundred (S200) dollars
and which sum shall be In full for all
services rendered by the parties Of the
second part
Special conditions Of this match: Both
men TO weigh one hundred and twenty
eight G2s) pounds or less not later than
six 90 o'clock p. m. or as near that hour
as convenient for the club Weighing to
be done at the clubhouse of the Nut
meg Athletic Club.
Either parties of the second part
weighing over one hundred and twenty
eight (12S) pounds at the time of the
weighing in, shall forfeit to his open
ent the sum of two hundred and fifty
(S250) dollars.
Both the parties of the second part
shall be at the rooms of the Nutmeg
Athletic Club between three (3) o'clock
p m. and three-thirty $3.50 o'clock p.
m. on the day Of the contest for exam
ination by the clubs physician.
1t IS further agreed that the referee
shall have full powers to decide any and
all questions that may arise and are not
provided for by these articles.
Both parties of the second part shall
be in the clubhouse Of the Nutmeg
Athletic Club at eight (S) o'clock p. m
10 fulfil their part Of the above con-
tract
Alec Brown, of the Greater New
York Athletic Club Of New York, shall
act as referee.
In case the referee cannot give de-
cision at the end of fifteen (15) rounds,
he shall have the privilege to call for
five 90 extra rounds.
Either parties Of the second part
falling to fulfil his part of this agree
ment fortelts the sum Of five hundred
CS5O0), which shall be divided between
the club and the contestant who has
lived up to this agreement.
The above forfeit money to be placed
in the hands Of Jere F. Regan of Wor-
cester, Mass, on or before April 12
1899.
In witness whereof the parties have
hereunto set their hands and seals the
day and year first above written.
They were signed by Mr. Crowley in
behalf of the club, and John ]. Cream
for Lawler and George P. King for
Sweeney. They were witnessed by the
sporting editor Of The Spy and a repre-
sentative Of The Gazette.
The articles We're not signed without
considerable talk, and at one time it
looked as if the LaWler men would not
sign. The question of referee was set
tied without much trouble. In the ar
ticles drawn up between the hackers,
Charley White was agreed on as ref
cree. They learned later that Mr..
Crowley had engaged Alec Brown Of
the Greater New York Athletic Club to
referee the matches of that evening.
Cream held out for White for a time,
but could not we'll object strenuous
ly to Brown as the latter's reputation
is beyond question.
There is change in weight from the
private articles first drawn up. Mr..
Mr.. Crowley explained to the hackers
that the men could fix on one figure,
and that weighing in at the ringside
was out of the question. If Sweeney
weighs in according to the present ar
ticles 1t will be practically the same as
the private ones, for he would not be
obliged to undergo the second weigh
ing in If he could come under 128
pounds There is a larger forfeit to
the Lawler men in case Sweeney fails
to come to weight under the clubs ar
ticles. The private articles called for
forfeit of 800 only.
The match VIII be boxed under Mar
quis of Queensberry rules, and d pro-
vision is made for 20 rounds in case
the referee is unable TO give decision
at the end Of 10 rounds.
Money talk on the fight is beginning
to spring up, but no wagers have been
made There will certainly be more
Lawler money than the followers Of
Sweeney figure on. Worcester sports
think well Of his chanv-;, and many
who are inclined to favor Sweeney, fear
to put their money against Lawler, for
he has shown that he is d tough prop
ostion. AS a betting man put it yes
terday, "Lawler has as much license
as anybody else to be a crackajack.
He is certainly a hard puncher ard is
game as a pebble, and the fact that
Sweeney has fought a few more battles
than he, does not at all mean tdat
Sweeney has an easy thing.
Lawler will certainly be in good con-
dition for the match. He is training
faithfully He has a slight cold, but
says he viii rid himself of it in 4 day
or two. II does not interfere with his
work He IS eating heartily and IS able
to drop to sleep the moment his head
touches the pillow which shows that
he is free from care and that is a good
in l1f favor