The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-06-16
FIGHT WILL BE HELD"
MAYOR McCARTHY'S Def
''Prn Running San Francisco and Taking No Orders
From Governor Gillett" Declaration AS He Starts
West From Chicago

| law, and that he would probably be
] able TO tell tonight exactly what ae-
/ ton he would take.
! "If the law permits me. shall most
/ certainly follow Governor Gilett's
/ orders he said.
! II is regarded as significant that
/ Webb is looking into the law A few
! days ago he issued a lengthy statement.
! in which he said ne ha6 already looked
/ into the law and ascertained that there
was no possible legal way by which the
( night might be prevented
II is understood that Webb is plan
ming 10 ask the courts for an Injunction
/ tomorrow morning. The attorneys rep
resenting Richard and Gleason have
! their answer already written and will
ME il Immediately after Webb files hts
petition If the courts grant perma-
nent Injunction against the fight. the
| battle will be held in Nevada. probabIv
at Reno.
Text of Letter.
The governors letter is as follows:
Executive Office.
Sacramento, June IA. 1910
hon. y. y Webb, Attorney General
San Francisco.
Dear Sir: ! desire to can your atteu-
lion 20 a sO-called prize fight TO take
place on the Fourth Of July next IN the
J
Jeffries and Jack johnson.
Many complaints are received at this
otnce from prominent citizens Of the
state protesting against this sO-called
night and requesting that some action
be taken by the proper authorities TO
stop tne same.
The district attorney Of San Francisco
has informed me that he does not pro-
pose to interfere in the matter.
a 10 81
held in this State, in the year 1880. enact I
ed a law making Il a felony for two
persons to night each other upon a preVi-
GUS agreement, upon a wager for money.
or any other reward. This law has been
amended from time to time, but never
50 as 10 make prize fighting lawful. In
1903 the Legislature again amended the
law relating TO prize fighting.
While the law, as amended. permitted ,
"sparring exhibitions" for a limited
number Of rounds, with gloves, to be
held by a domestic Incorporated club. !
II did not remove the ban which the
upon prize fights, and while a "sparTlng I
exhibition" under certain conditions and
restrictions, is permissible under this |
act, prize fight stin remains felony.
Definition Of Prize Fight.
Therefore the question arises, what is |
a prize fight and what IS a ''sparrins
exhibition The former is a crime.
the latter is lawful Il is claimed by
many that the contest soon TO taxed
place between Jefrries and Johnson is
20 be a prize fight, as that term is I'M
derstOOd in the law, and therefore a
crime under our statutes
II this is true, q should be prevented, |
but, II carried out, the guilty parties !
should be punished by law
I be ieve that you should investigate !
the matter and take such legal steps
as may be proper, In your judgment. II 4
warranted by the facts. in pressing the I
case 20 the court for it's decision. and ask I
10 have all interested parties enjoined I
pending the hearing our supreme l
court has never defined a prize fight. 1
and believe that an opportunity should
be given II 20 DO So
Since an amendment 70 the law IN |
1899. permitting "sparring exhibitions" |
prize fighting, under the guise Of this /
has been tolerated in California until I
today our Stat is a mecca for prize /
fighting. much tC our discredit.
Our people have the right 70 demand /
that prize fighting shall cease in this I
State. and 10 viii II our present laws,
are enfOrCed-especially II our courts
follow the directions OF the supreme
courts OF our sister States IN defining
a prize fight
Reviews Other Bouts. /
The governor then reviews reports Of |
the MoraB-XcCarthy fatal fight and /
the Nelson-Wolgast fight 10 show that 4
they were real prize fights.
He concludes;
If these contests were not prize fights. I
then the historic battle between Heenan I
and Sayres was not one. have no I.
doubt that the coming contest between /
Jenries and Johnson will be a repetition 4
OF the brutality mentioned in the fore
going fights, Or.y on a larger scale.
If sparring exhibitions as permitted by .
our laws mean fights where men are
killed. beaten into insensibility. and 4
their faces cut into ribbons then It is
time that the Legislature should inter
fere and make such exhibitions or con-
tests a felony. Such contests are prize
fights, not permitted by the law. and 4
should be punished as such. Those who
engage in them are prize fighters and
make their living by fighting each other
for prizes and rewards.
The whole business is demoralizing 10
the youth of our state, corrurts -,,,-ls,
morals, IS offensive 70 the sense OF a I
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 permits the parties interest
ed 10 proceed as advertised by them,
then I desire YOU, on behalf OF the peo-
pie Of the State, to gather all evidence
possible, and IL the contest is carried /
out as advertised, and the parties fight 1
Tor prize OF money or for a reward Il
and inA-cJ upon each other bodily in
jury, then YOU are TO cause the arrest
Of the principals and those interested \