The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-07
JUDGE JERE NJ. WILSON
FORMER INDIANIAN WHO Is
SCHLEY'S CHIEF LEGAL ADVISER.
How He stopped Prizefghting While
Presiding over n Circuit Court
Ia Franklin County.
stan correspondence Of the journal.

Staff Correspondence Of the Journal.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6.-Judge Jere NJ.
Wilson. the chief counsel for Schley. is one
Of the most important and interesting per-
sonages in the local life of the national
capital. ~Seventy-three years of age, a con-
gresham from Indiana over a generation
ago, he is, apparently, just reaching his
Intellectual prime. A lighting man he was
forty years ago and a fine example OF the
fighting man he is yet. But he believes in
fights with brains, and not with fists.
In 1867 he was a circuit judge in Indiana
and announcement had been made that
there was TO be a prize fight in Franklin
county, which was a part Of his judicial
district. Sporting men and fght fanciers
were gathering from all parts of the United
States. One Of the contestants was Joe
Coburn, Of st. Louis, who had a national
reputation. The other was good enough TO
give fine promise for a fight. In those days
the law took notice Of p~rizehghters in a
way which was sufficiently strenuous TO
sustain their dignity. but not stringent
enough TO prevent the fights. The men who
proposed to fight were Gifted hauled before
d judge and tried on the charge OF ~consort-
ing for AZ ARRAY. They were nned for their
bloody intentions and left the courtroom 10
have their fight nyway
When the prosecuting attorney asked Tor
the sentencing of Coburn and his antago-
mist, because they were preparing to hght,
Judge Wilson assumed the task with entire
Willingness. He said something like this:
las you must know ] am aware Of what
sort OF an ARRAY you intend having, l pro-
pose to let it be known that ~prizefightinG Is
not profitable in this State. In addition to
filming you l Will sentence you TO three
months in jail
The prizehghting group was so aston
ished that they were daZed. Coburn turned
10 his hacker and said: Say. that little
fellow"
This put a stop to public p~rizefghting in
Indiana for many years: in fact, for good.
Judge Wilson set a fashion of judicial
treatment which others could not ignore.
and it has been too much for fighters TO
face.
In the conventional accounts of Judge
Wilson'S career it is usually written that
he served two terms i'm Congress and was
beaten because he took his share OF the
salary grab. He only served two terms.
but was not a candidate for reelection.
He took the salary grab all right. but this
did not interfere with his congressional
career SO seriously as the fact that he was
Serrymandered out of his district and
thrown i'm with the Great Director" Hol-
man. He was not a candidate.
x <
Speaking Of the famous salary grab Of
the Forty-fourth Congress, which sent so
many public men to hasty and interminable
retirement, it is recalled that the salary
due Silver Dick Bland, under that act.
is still in the United States treasury. He re-
fused to touch it and never would discuss
the matter. 1t was a simple duty with him.
As a matter of gossip it is related when
the First Battle" was on, Bryan suggested
to Bland that it would be good politics to
draw out this money and make IL the nu-
cleus of a campaign fund. He thought il
might be SO popular that it would become
the nucleus of Il large supply of money,
which was sadly needed. Bland tersely re-
piled that if the money could not be taken
by himself for his own use or that of his
family he did not see how it could with
prOpriety go TO the Democratic party. That
was too hard for the Boy"
XXX
From Bryan to Jones, OF Arkansas, and
Democratic chairman, it is reported in
Washington that he IS in a lot OF trouble
over his reelection TO the United States
Senate. And his chief trouble is for a pure
ly Republican reason. One OF Senator
Jones's most valuable political possessions
has been his Vociferous and undying hate
of Powell Clayton, the carpetbag Governor
of Arkansas, United States senator, al
ways bitterly despised by the Democrats
of the State. and now American ambas-
sador to Mexico. In a state way a politician
must constantly Willy Clayton in order to
remain in good Democratic standing. In
this gospel OF hate Jones has been the high
priest. The State has coptinued for years
to look upon him as an example of how
hard and fearlesSly a man could hate. Now
it is becoming known over his State that
one Of Jones's closest friends is that Re
publican person, Richard Kerens, of st.
Louis. The two are opposed to be OF one
mind about many things. But even worse.
kerens and Clayton are intimates. This
is making the Jones hate of Clayton look
like the religious piety of a railroad corpo-
ration. OTTO CARMICHAEL.