New-York tribune., 1906-06-01
TO STOP PRIZEFIGHTS.
GOVERNOR SENDS ORDER.
Sheriff and Police Hasten to Obey
Long Acre Club Closed.

Sheriff Hayes received letter from Governor
Higgins late yesterday afternoon. in which the
Governor ordered the Sheriff TO enforce the law
against public boxing exhibitions. AS result
of the order there were no such events pulled off
In the city last night. Unless some legal action
by the managers of various so-called athletic
clubs which arrange the fights proves efectual.
II is believed that the deathblow to prizefght-
Ing on any extensive scale in New York City
has been administered
In spite of the quick action of Sheriff Hayes.
who ordered his deputies to stop every prize
fight scheduled for last night, the police got
ahead of him and closed the Long Acre Athletic
Club, at Nos. 15S and $50 West 29th street before
the Sheriff and his deputies arrived. Shortly be-
fore p. m. Captain Schnttberger and Captain
Hodgins. of the West 30th street station were
called TO the telephone in the police station. and
Police Commissioner Bingham talked to them.
He ordered them TO close the Long Acre Athletic
Club where q fight was booked for last night
and keep It closed. Several policemen and de-
tectives were sent there and shortly afterward
a blackboard was placed on the steps with the
words written on it,
mo meeting tonight. Long Acre Athletic
Club"
Sheriff Hayes. with Under Sherft Johnson:
his counsel. Maurice b BlumenthaI. and As
sistant District Attorney O'Connor, arrived
about o'clock and the Sheriff appeared much
chagrined that the police preceded him.
There's nothing TO do. Sheriff" the inspector
announced. I've told these people that the only
thing 10 do If they wish 10 stand on their con-
stitutional rights is TO enjoin you to-morrow
and enjoin us also. and then We will know where
stand
The Sheriff remaired but short Tina seeing
that the place closed. There were no other
fphrs 0Sc
Sheriff Hayes earlier in the day. on receipt of
the Governors telegram said.
I shall. OF course. obey the order Of the Gov
ernor The law compels me to do so. AT the
present time l have twelv. deputies busy with
various work. and IT will probably he necessary
rulings of any city magistrate. but will close
every place and keep It closed until the courts
decide.
1t is understood that managers of some of the
clubs Will apply for temporary injunctions to-
day against both the Sheriff and the police
which would act as restraining orders and would
allow the fights 10 continue until the courts
decide the matter one way the other. These
injunctions will be directed against The Sheriff
(or the Police Commissioner. deputies. servants
and representatives"
Henry ]. Goldsmith, counsel for the Twentieth
Century Athletic Club. which has held fights at
Madison Square Garden. where two boxers
McGovern and Britt-were arrested a few days
ago. after a ten-round bout. made light of the
Governors order. He said:
The Governor is laborng under a delusion
We not violating the law, and have no in
tention Of doing The contestants engage
only in exhibition of sparring. No admission
fee is charged directly or indirectly. Section
56S of the Penal Code gives us the legal right
hold these exhibitions. and we will protect
our rights under the law. The Governor might
as well try to prevent the New York Athletic
Club from giving boxing exhibitions in it's club
house. The exhibition scheduled for next Mon
day night at Madison Square Garden will go on
without any interference whatever
P. T. Powers. president Of the Twentieth Cen
tury Athletic Club, said:
A prizefght. according 10 my idea, which
believe is the accepted one. is held only when
two men have signed articles of agreement TO
try to knock each other out for percentage of
the gate receipts The Twentieth Century Ath-
letic Club has never promoted such an event.
and does not expect To,
Mayor Mcclellan declined 10 draw any conclu-
sions from the order Of Governor Higgins. He
said:
In the three months from January the police
arrested 10 men for fighting and q for aiding
and abettng in fighting All were discharged
by the courts. In May two were arrested for
fighting at the Twentieth Century Club. Dep
uty Commissioner Mathot prosecuted the cases
i'm person Both prisoners We're discharged by
Magistrate Pool before whom they were
night and their cases are still pending.