Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-02-05
From a Staff Correspondent.

oOI II-hOo lllZ11L l. lNtIA 1ANNA'
From Staff Correspondent
Charleston, w. Va, February Al
Senator Anthony Smiths bill to sup
press prize fighting makes its appear
ance again in amended form, and is
enacted into law, it is more than like
ly that Governor Atkinson will be not
only willing, but eager, to afix his sig
nature to the measure. This much is
indicated in his correspondence with
Governor Bushnell, Of Ohio, relative to
the extradition of Miller and Massey,
who are under Indictment for prize
fighting in Wayne county, and both of
whom are now in custody in IrOnton,
o. Dan Bayliff, one of the principals,
is now in Indiana, or is supposed to be.
1t will be recalled that Governor
Bushnell revoked his acceptance of
Governor AtkinsOn's acquisitions, be-
Cause of representations made to him
that Governor Atkinson desired to SIM
ply prosecute the colOred participant
in the pugilistic battle, and was not
making the proper effort to apprehend
Bayliff.
1t will be observed that Governor At
kinson, in the appended letter sent
to Bushnell day or two since, drops
his dignity for the time being and in
terjects a few sporty terms on his own
account. The letter runs:
My Dear Governor:
l am more concerned than you are
aware of over my acquisitions upon you
for your Ohio prize fighters who
sneaked into this State, and did their
Cruising in violation of our West Vir-
ginia laws My entire life has been OPP
posed to that sort of business, and so has
yours; and l am specially anxious to con-
vict them. l can assure you that our au-
thorities will send them over the road,
if you will allow me to bring them to this
State for trial. l have employed special
counsel to assist the Prosecuting Attor-
ney of Wayne county-the place where
the fight took place-and my purpose is
to have all the participants vigorously.
yet fairly, prosecuted. 1 assure you again
that it is not my intention ito make fish
of one and fowl of the other" by prose-
cutting the colored participant, and allow
the white one to go unpublished. [ have
no prejudice against our brother in
black" The colored people of West Nir-
ginia know this statement to be true.
Your letter to me revoking your accept
ance of my acquisitions for the prize fight
ers is frank and manly; but I am sure
you will listen TO an explanation or TWO
which will convince you of the good faith
of West Virginia and her agent in this
matter.
After receiving your letter, I sent for
Mr.. Harrison Ash, my agent, and he care
fully read what you therein said. He
promptly exhibited a telegram from Dan
Baylif, addressed to Eas Massey, Massey
House, Ironton, Ohio, which reads as for
lows:
'MUNCIE, Ind, January Q, 1899
'Eas Massey, Massey House, Ironton, O.
Wire Immediately my expense outcome
pugilist NiIler's trial.
DAN BAYLIFF."
In order to convince you of the genuine
ness of the telegram, l enclose the original
herewith.
My agent, Mr.. Ash. was in your city
(Columbus) that day. as well as the day
before and the day after trying to Sc
cure authority from you to bring to West
Virginia all three of the participants. He
gives two reasons why he did not accept
the authority from you to bring Bayliff:
list, Because he positively knew that Bay
lift had left Lima, o., and was at Mum
Gle, Ind: and I'd, because the fee, which
he had to pay for the Bayliff papers was
so, and he barely had money enough left
vi, !, n
Miller and Massey-the two men he al
ready had under arrest.
Ash is a reliable man, and exactly the
sort of a fellow to arrest prize fighters
who are fugitives from justice. confess
that he is not a Sunday School man"
but he is a big and strong and sober and
fearless man, and knows how to take
hold of a pugilist 1t is true that his as
sistant shot Miller while he was attempt
ing to arrest Miller, but his said assist
ant will doubtless be indicted for the same
in Lawrence county. But that should not
should not enter into the controversy as
10 my right through you, to bring all
the participants in the Wayne county prize
fight back to West Virginia, for a fair and
impartial trial for violation of our laws.
If Ash and his assistant did wrong in
shooting Miller, while they We're endeavor-
ing to arrest him, let the courts of Law
renee county dispose of the matter in
legal and proper manner.
Now, my dear Governor, I ask you in
the interest of public justice, to recons.d-
er your decision as to Miller and Mas
sey, and allow them to be brought to
West Virginia for trial,
1 promise you that Mr. Dan Bayliff shall
have nv careful attention If he gets
away from me he will have to do a vast
amount of tall running" Let us have
Miller and Massey now, and we will
scoop Bayliff LATER unless he ''skips the
country"
I have written this letter in my own
handwriting to show you my earnestness