The times., 1899-06-08
DBVERY fHRBATENS
TO STOP THE Fight
The New York Police Chief
Will Permit no Brutality.
The Proposed Interference Said to
Arise From Politics.
Proprietors of the Lenox Athletic
Club Object to Any Competitors
on Concy Island.

New York, June 7.-Those who have
purchased tickets for the Fitzsimmons-
Jeffries fight, to be decided at Coney ISL
and Friday night. and those who have not
done SO, but would like to, are wondering
whether the mill will be permitted to
reach conclusion without police interfer-
eIce. The fact that the New York public
has enjoyed all sorts OF glove contests at
the Lenox, Broadway. Greenwood. and
Pelican athletic clubs for the past two
years without interference from the police.
and the additional fact that the heavy
weight battles between Corbett and Shar-
key, Mccoy and Sharkey. Maher and God
dard, Rubin and Maher, and other such
events Were decided in the Lenox Athletic
Club in the presence OF Chief Devery have
caused the patrons of ring contests to
throw up their hands in amaZement over
the announcement that the chief will stop
the fight Friday night the moment
bard blow Is struck or the battle be-
comes brutal"
Some such obstacle to the successful
completion OF this big match has been
looked for by those who believe they are
in touch with the inside situation" in
local pugilsm. There has been so much
hard feeling and open warfare between the
Lenox Athletic Club on one side and Fitz-
simmons. Brady. and Julian on the other
that when the Coney Island Club bid for
and secured the fight 1t was common talk
among sporting men that mo license would
be granted and consequently no fight could
be held
Those behind the Coney Island Club.
yph cd ha
police board that they could not have a
| license. began TO pull the strings II has
been said, and no denial has been heard,
| that leading politicians in Kings county
| notified several big Tammany leaders that
| unless the license was granted there would
be a split in the local Democracy This
brought matters to a head, and the license
| was issued
There has been grumbling on the part of
certain politicians interested in fighting at
| the Lenox and Broadway clubs ever since.
| One of them is said to have made an open
| statement to Brady that Fitz and Jeffries
| would never meet in this State unless at
| the Lenox Club.
| The sudden change of base on the part
of Devery, who did not stop a knockout at
the Lenox Club Tuesday night and who
permitted Sharhey to knock Mccoy sense
less last winter, is puzzling the public.
But those who believe they know the rea-
| son say that he has made this move in the
interest of the pugilistic politicians who
do not relish the idea of having an opposi-
tion fighting club run at Coney Island. On
| the other hand, there are many who declare
| that Deyery will not interfere at all, and
| that they will be heard from again If the
! fight is stopped by Devery there will un-
doubtedly.be howl that will not down for
some time.
| When asked If he would not allow the
big fellows to do some real punching, Dew
cry said
Il won't stand for anything of the kind.
| l won't have them take axes to each other
| What | said in my letter is right. If there
are any heavy blows struck 1 will stop
| it."
But what do you call heavy blows,
chlef?"
Il know what heavy blow is and l
have given them warning. The law per-
mits sparring but not slugging"
80 If a Knockout blow is struck
ITO the lookup they CO." the chief
broke in. Tell the people who are going
out there that l said so. | will be there,
too. and l will be as good as my word
Why didn't you take the same stand
in regard TO the Sharkey- Corbett and Nc
Coy -Sharkey encounters at the Lenox Ath
| leuc Club. Was the law violated in those
instances
"Oh. if the battle between Fitzsimmons
and Jeffries is conducted in the same
| quiet, orderly manner as those two meet
ings. why, everything will be all serene" "
/ You won't interfere. then. unless it be-
comes very brutal and the law is vio-
| lated?"
Yes" responded Devery, emphatically,
that's just it
| Late tonight prominent Brooklyn poll
tician said: "Devery will not interfere at
all. He can be at the ringside, but he will
not show his authority unless there is a
riot in the crowd or in the ring Referee
| Siler will have charge Of the fighters and
| will make them live up to the rules There
| will be a fight and it will be decisive"
That the attendance will be phenomenal
ly large is the opinion of many. A rough
| estimate figures UP the receipts, if every
ticket is sold, sat $50, ,270.
Preparations on the building are almost
completed. and the management declare
that nothing will be lacking
! The betting figures did not change much
| today. To be sure. with the arrival OF the
ut-of-town sports, Jeffries made new
| friends, but the strangest part of 1t all
is that they are not backing him with that
| vim which was manifest this time a week
ago. At Corbstt' 'stthis afternoon the bet
| ting was rather lively. No large wagers
| were recorded. but those that were made
were eagerly taken. Two TO one were the
! prevailing odds.