Evening journal., 1901-11-15
GLOVE BOUTS
UNDER ban
COde Of 1856 Prevents Spar
ring Contests Tonight
CITY'S CHIEF OF POLICE ACTS
Management Of Athletic Club SAYS
That No Prize Fight Vas
Intended

BY order of Chief of Police Eugene
Ylassey, the sparring contests which
|vore TO have taken place in Pyle's Cycle
|Academy this evening, under the aus
ices of the Wilmington Athletic Club,
ave been declared off.
Chief Massey bases his action ON an
opinion given him yesterday 10y Deputy
|Attorney-Genera Robert II. Richards
II the legality of "prize-iighting.' In
his opinion. Mr.. Richards called Chief
IIassey's attention to volume 10. chap
er $40 of the Revised Code, which isl
n act entitled. An act to punish all
persons engaged in prize fighting. This
CT clearly prohibits anyone from prize
/ lighting. promoting a prize fight. holding
takes, etc, in the STATE Of Delaware, aud
'nakes violation of it punishable by fine
II $500 and imprisonment of not less than
1ne year nor more tnan ten years. This
I ct was passed in Dover in March, 1856.
Mr.. Richards was of the opinion that the
bouts which were TO be held this even
|ng were illegal. and directed Chief
Massey to prevent them. The chief
Sccordingly notified the management of
+ he Wilmington Athletic Club that no
'Drizc fighting would be allowed and that
( he fights scheduled for tonight must be
Failed of.
The management of the Athletic Club
/ nd the sporting element are much pro-
oSed at the action of Chief Massey,
. directed by Mr.. Richards. They say
. hat the exhibitions given here have not
. been prize fights, IN the old Interpretation
Nt the word, inasmuch as the men that
. boxed before the club have all been paid
certain sum before they entered the
ling, and no matter in which way the
ontest went the monetary result would
be the same. The men have been paid
4 salary, the managers declare, and came
erc for the purpose of giving a sparring
Exhibition and not a prize fight.
Another fact that is commented upon
that the contests held here on October
. s were attended by Mr.. Richards Chief
tiasscy and CITY Solicitor David j. Rein
5ardt. neither OF whom made any pro-
lest. nor have they since until yesterday
Expressed a public opinion that the con-
kests were illegal. The club manages
anent was permitted to engage the men
or tO-night's contests, advertise the bouts
{ Extensively. rent the academy without a
protest being made by the authorities
Intil twenty-f hours before the bouts
were to take place, thereby causing n
considerable loss of money. which was
Unfair to all parties concerned.
4 In speaking on the subject Chief Mas
|ey said that he had received no official
Notification that the contests were ille-
.al until yesterday. and acted as soon as
lc received the opinion. He also said
4 hat such contests were prohibited N
Philadelphia. and that he did not think it
light that out Of town persons, especially
Philadelphans. should bc permitted TO
'ome 10 Wilmington and give the eN-
libitiOns.
The action Of Chief Massey will put an
hnd TO all sparring contests in Whining
on for which those who engage in them
04re paid for taking part. 1t was under
he old act of 1856 that Former Sheriii
William Herbert went TO Newark many
Fears ago and alone and unaided steppedln'
& a n prize ring that had been pitched near
f hat place and stopped Il genuine hight
f hat was about to take place any believe
however, If the present action of the au'
horities was TO he tested ID would he
'Ound to bc illegal.
In 1895 Robert G.. Harman who at that
inc was city solicitor. was called upon
foran the law regarding
prize fights. the question being raised or
4 4iccount Of benefit bout that was I,
II axe place at that time. Mr.. Harman held
hat the law did not apply, as the boul
was not 10 he a prize fight.
Again in 1895 Peter l.. Cooper, thef
tleputy attorney general. called the atten
a ION of Chief of Police Dolan to the law
and informed him that no NOR
lights take place. Nothing. wa'
done then. however. and tn
matter has drifted along until the pres
ant time.