The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-09-21

In their efforts to suppress the McGoverr
and Young Corbett" fight were not slow
to take advantage OF the brutality shown
by those men most interested IN the feather
shocking state OF anairs-the citizens o..
New London actually witnessing and en-
couraging a dog fight and putting UP
money on TT
The Gafney brothers and their friends
could scarcely have given their enemies a
better weapon than this dog fight 20 use
against them. and IL became at once the
subject for a certain minister. For some
time this clergyman had worked hard. with
little success. in his efforts to have the au-
thorities prohibit the feather-we!ght fight.
as being a regular prize fight. and one of
his strongest points had been that the con-
test would temporarily attract an unde-
sirable element TO the community.
He did not mince words in his diatribes-
in fact, he made some very savage remarks.
and passed some equally severe structures
on everybody connected with the approach
ing fight. Until the day of the dog fight.
however. his words had been of little
weight: but even those who had scarcely
any interest I'm the matter could not over
look the brutal motives which had led these
fight promoters to arrange n carry out
the battle between two bull terriers.
Naturally. the clergyman made the most
Of the vantage point by charging and diiat-
ing upon the brutality displayed In a Chris
tian community. and demanded to know how
its citizens could so disgrace themselves as
to permit the Gaffney brothers. who had not
only tolerated but encouraged a dog prize
fight. and a most horrible one. TO go on with
an exhibition Of the kind proposed by the
McGovern and Young Corbett' leaders.
Up to the time OF the encounter between
the two bull terriers arrangements for the
boxing contest had been made without much
comment from the busy residents Of New
London: but after the dog light the public
began not only to sit up and take notice.
but to give u~tterance TO its opinion of the
dog fight and Its promoters. and to ask In
dignantly why these men were not brought
into court.
II was thought best to soothe the public
pulse by delaying the trial OF the men until
after the McGovern and Young Corbett"
had been pulled on. so the hearing of
the dog fight case was postponed
After a time the feeling aroused by the
dog fight began to dwindle away. and It
looked as though everything would go along
without a hitch for the boxing contest"
The sport promoters had not fully ESTIMATED
the energy OF the interested clergyman. He
had by no means allowed his feeling to
cool; neither had he been idle while the pro-
OF the McGovern and Young Cor
bett' affair had been busily engaged In
checkmating public opinion He vent
about vigorously stirring up the people
against the night leaders. and finally sue
ceeded In getting up q mammoth petition.
had been signed by the residents Of
New London. and In which he protested
against the proposed battle and requested
State Attorney Solomon Lucas to take an
authoritative rand In the matter.
As q result OF this, much polite CORE
spondence has passed between the State At
torney and New Lendon's Mayor. who. II
seems. had given his word to the Common