The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-11-22
in STATE OF DOUBT.
Glove Contest May Meet With Decid-
ed oposition

ed oposition
From Wednesday, Daily Gazette.
Both the telephone and telegraph
wires were kept more or less busy
yesterday between this city and the
place at which the attorney general
of the state just then had his exact
dition gentlemen more or less close
ly connected with the proposed del
sartian entertainment dated for this
city next Friday night and who are
supposed to have more than a passing
interest in the success of the affair
paid visits to the office of the county
attorney and the sheriff, as they were
more or less worried concerning a re-
port which had got out that an effort
would be made to stop the thing.
OF Mr.. Hathhorn they asked wheth-
er he intended to exercise his prerog-
ative and attempt to prevent the en-
tertainment, as they had been inform
ed he had declared such to be his pur-
pose. To them and all others the
county attorney made the same reply:
He would enforce the law if complaint
was made in proper form. He quoted
the law and declared that his duty
was plain. He also called up the at
torney general and asked that dis
tinguished gentleman for an inter-
probation Of the law as he understood
it, saying he had been informed that
he had no objection to permitting the
fight to be pulled Off" as he consider
ed it to be within the pale of section
752 of the penal code. Mr.. Donovan
declined to express himself at long
range and informed Mr.. Hathhorn that
he would submit a written opinion,
and would write that opinion last
night. Consequently the world will
be kept in ignorance of the attorney
generals Interpretation of the section
referred to until the mails will have
brought to Mr.. Hathhorn the result
of his l~ucubrations. In answer to Mr..
Hathhorn's query. however he admit
ted that the section had not been re-
pealed and was supposed to be still in
force. He also said that "prize fight
ing will have to STOP" but professed
ignorance as to whether the proposed
contest would be a prizefight.
Under Sheriff Sales, in the absence
of Sheriff Hubbard, said that as far
as his office was concerned it stood
ready to do it's duty and would be
guided in it's actions by the opinions of
the county attorney and attorney gen.
eral. 1t it was decided that the law
was being violated his Office would at
tempt to stop the violation and if nee
essary arrest all who participated in
the affair in any manner. If complaint
made he saw no reason for re-
fusing to act in his capacity as an Of
ficer, regardless of the consequences,
as the law was very clear in the mat
ter of defining the duties of the sher-
if in regard to serving processes duly
issued by competent authorities.
In behalf of the men supposedly
managing the affair and acting in be-
half of the athletic club under whose
auspices the scrap is to take place, it
may be said that they claim to be
in possession of kilograms from the
attorney general saying the fight, con-
test, exhibition, sparring for points,
or whatever it may be called, if con-
Quoted according to the lines as sub
to him will not be in violation
Of the law prohibiting prize fights.
Assomuch has beensaid concerning
the law which it is claimed by some
will be violated if the proposed con-
test is permitted to take place, and
by others that it will not be, The Ga
zette herewith publishes the section,
which is No. 752 of the penal code:
Every person who engages in, en-
courages or promotes as principal,
lid, second, umpire, or otherwise any
wrestling or smuggling match,
with or without gloves, or who attends
or is present at such a contest, or
hires, rents or permits the use of any
building or grounds for such purposes,
S guilty of a misdemeanor.
This section does not apply to box
ng with soft gloves in any gymnas-
UNI for exercise"
TO remove a troublesome corn or
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