The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-06-16
BIG FIGHT CAN TIE
PULLED OFF" IN
CALIFORNIA
Gov. Gillette inSiruCts Attorney
General to Stop It
CALLS UPON Inc COURTS
Richard not Yet Given Up Hope But
May Have to Go To
Nevada

San Francisco, June l6.-Stirrcl to
action by protests nom all parts OF
the state and country, Governor
James n. Gillett yesterday took steps
to prevent the championship fight be
tween James j. Jelfries and Jack
Johnson, scheduled to be held in San
Francisco on July 4.
In letter to Attorney General U.
S. Webb the governor expressed his
disapproyal Of prize fighting and di-
rected that the courts be invoked to
prevent the match. He concluded
with positive order that, in case the
plea for a restraining order be not
granted and the hight be held, the at
torney general prosecute those inter-
ested in the fight for violation of the
penal code of the state.
The letter declares that the SUI
preme court of California has never
defined prize fight and suggests
that an opportunity be given it to do
so. This is taken to indicate the gov
ernors intention TO press his opposi-
ton to the end. While the status of
the fight is unsettled the sporting fra
ternity is much cast down, and it is
generally believed that the death
knell OF prize tigh,ing in California
has been sounded.
This belief is borne out by the fact
that the governor telegraphed to AT.
torney General MeDD later IN the day
to take similar action as to the fight
scheduled for June is in San Fran
cisco between Sam Langford and AL
Kaufman
Promoters Tex Richard and John
Gleason had heard no whisper OF the
governors intended action. When
the news reached him Richard rush
ed to the office OF Attorney General
Webb and asked what that officer pro
posed to do. After a conference with
Webb, Richard said he believed that
the fight would be held in San Fran
cisco on the advertised date, despite
the governors orders.
Richard would not say what his
course would be until Webb handed
down an opinion but he has no inten
ton Of abandoning the effort to hole
the fight here. Both he and Gleason
devoted much time to conference
with their attorney. The course o
legal defense decided on probabll
will not be given out until Mr. Web
has made a statement.
Richard said Webb had pr mise,
him, because Of the great expense o
erecting the arena and other matter
connected with the fight. that hi
Af.ipfgr mould 10.
out delay. Richard expects II with
In two days In the mean time Rich
ard says he will prepare to take IN
fight TO Nevada or Utah II compelle
TO leave California
Just what will be the nature of IN
legal proceedings TO be instituted b
the attorney general Is not know
The governors letter Is positive /
directing that the courts be asked {
intervene. and urging a definition {
prize fighting by the Supreme cour
For this reason Il Is believed this
Mr.. Webb will apply for a writ brinI
ing all parties before that court f
a hearing and procuring a Temporal
injunction, pending decision. Il
this step he would avoid delay sine
the promoters would have to appe
II judgment were rendered again
th2m.
When word OF the governors ord,
reached Ben Lomond Jeffries refus,
to believe Il. The camp was throw
into an uproar by the message, b
Jeffries, after declaring his disbeli,
retired to his cottage and was -four
there later sound asleep.
Richard estimates that he will 10
$4,000 II he is forced to take d
hight elsewhere. He said he won
consider Reno and Ely. Nevada. al
Salt Lake City. lie Is said to fay
the Utah capital.
Work on the arena, which has nj
crossed rapidly since II was start
about two weeks ago. was ordered 81
peaded temporarily when the acti
OF the government became known
Legal proceedings Il is beliey
will make no difference at the Ok
ers' camps. Il Is probable they "
10 on with their training as thou
nothing had happened.
District Attorney Fickert mentI
OF whom Is made by the governor
his letter to the attorney general.
played some bitterness when ash
for a statement. He said that the
ernor had Needed the clamor OF
mob and made satirical reference
political capital" However"
concluded, Il still believe that
hght will be held here as the cou
are more powerful than the 20,
nor"
Seeking a reason for the action
Governor Gillett for his repeated
clarations that he did not believe
fght could be prevented and that
did not purpose to begin useless
position, many think that press
was brought to bear on him 4
Washington. that the states ron