The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-16


San Francisco June 15-F'ollowing is
the full text of Governor Gilletts let
ter to the attorney general, ordering that
the Johnson-J effries fight be stopped
Executive office, Sacramento, June H.,
1910. Hon. o. S. Webb, attorney gem
eral, San Francisco:
Dear Sir-I desire to call your atten-
ton to a so-called prize fight to take
place on the Fourth of July in the city
of San Francisco, between James Jeffries
and Jack Johnson.
Many complaints are made at this Of
flee by prominent citizens of this city
protesting against the so-called fight and
requesting some action be taken by the
proper authorities to stop the same. Inc
district attorney of San Francisco has in
formed me that he does not propose TO
interfere in the matter.
1.-The first session of the legislature
held in this state in year 1850, enacted
law making it a felony for two per-
sons to fight each other upon prev
ious agreement upon wager Tor money
or any other reward. This law has been
amended from time to time, but never
as to make prize fighting lawful.
IN 1903 the legislature again amended
the law relating to prize fighting. Whie
the law as amended permitted sparrlng
| exhibitions for a limited number OF
rounds with gloves to be held by domes-
tic Incorporated club, it did not remove
the ban which the laws of this state mas
always placed upon prize fights ana
while a 'sparring exhibition under GER
tain conditions and restrictions is per-
missible under this act a prize fight still
remains a felony.
1.-The question arises, what is a prize
fight and what is a sparring exhlpltion
The former is a crime, the latter is Jaw
full. 1t is claimed by many that ,ne
contest soon to take place between Jei-
fries and Johnson is to be a prize lisht
as that term Is understood In the Ia"
and therefore crime under our statues
.If This is true it should be prevented,
hut II carried out the interested parues
should be punished as provided by law.
.J believe you should investigate the
matter and take such legal steps as may
be proper in your judgment II Warranty
bv the facts in presenting the case 10 tne
court for it's decision ana ASK 70 aarse
all interested parties enjoined penoihg
| the hearing. -
"Our supreme court has never de-
ened nrize fght and l believe that
an opportunity should be. given II 70
do so. Since the amendment OF the law
of 1889 permitting 'sparrins eAniol-
tions.' prize fighting, under the suise
of this amendment, mas erea,iy ~
creased and is tolerated in California
until today our state is a mecca for
nrize lighters, much to our discred1t.
"Our people have the right to demand
that prize fighting shall cease In thls
state and 1t will If our present laws
are enforced, especially If our courts
follow the decisions of supreme courts
of our sister states in defining prize
frht. To show that the so-called
'sparring exhibitions held in this state
under the auspices of Incorporated ath-
| letic clubs have not been sparring ex-
| hIbitions but prize fights, l need but
refer you to the files of our daily
papers,
at seems that prize fighters always
want to fight on Washington's birthday,
| Decoration Day and Independence Day.
| IF the contests reported in the CAL
| ifornia papers were not prize fights
| then the historic battle between Heenan
| and Sayers was not one. have no
doubt that the coming contest between
| Jeffries and Johnson will be a repetl-
ton of such brutality.
IF sparring exhibitions as permitted
by our laws make fights where men
are - ed, beaten into insensibility and
| their faces cut into ribbons are aw-
full acts, then it is time the legisla-
| tors hould interfere and make such
exhibitions a felony. Such contests are
prize fights, not permitted by the law
and should be punished as such. TIL lose
who engage in them are prize fighters
and make their living by fighting each
other for prizes or rewards.
THE whole business is demoralizins
to the youth of our state, corrupts
morals, is offensive to the senses of a
great majority of our citizens and
should be abated as a public nuisance
and the offenders punished.
| IF the court upon your petition re-
fuses to grant the relief prayed for
therein and permit the parties interest
ed to proceed as advertised by them,
| then / desire you on behalf of the peo-
pie of the state to gather all the evil
dence possible and If the contest is
carried out as advertised and the par
ties fight for purse or for reward
or inflict upon each other bodily in
| jury, then you are to cause the arrest
of the principals and those interested
with them in promoting the fight and
try them on a felony charge for vio-
lating section 412 of the penal code.
Yours truly, J. N. GJLLETT."
What Rickard Says -