Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-16


persons to fight each other upon
previous agreement, upon a wager for
money or any other reward. This law
has been amended from time to time
but never so AS to make prize fighting
lawful
I'm 1903 tie Legislature again amend
ed the law relating to prize fighting
While the law as amended permitted
.Sparring exhibitions for a limited
number of rounds with gloves. it did
not remove the ban which the laws OF
this state has always placed upon
prize fights which still remain a felony
Therefore the question arises what
is a prize fight and what is 'Sparrins
exhibition The former is a crime
the latter is lawful. 1t is claimed by
many that the contest soon to take
place between Jeffries and johnson is
tc be a prize fght as that term IS un-
derstood in the law and therefore a
crime under our statutes.
IF this is true it should be prevent
ed, but if carried out. the interested
parties should be punished as PROVIDED
by law.
Il believe that you should investigate
the matter and take such legal steps as
NAV be proposed in your judgement
If warranted by the facts in presenting
the case to the court for its decision.
and ask to have all interested parties
enjoined pending the hearing.
"Our supreme court has never de-
fined prize fight and believe that an
opportunity should be given it to do so.
Since the amendment of the law in 1899
permitting 'sparring exhibition prize
fighting, under the guise Of this amend
lnent has greatly increased and has
been tolerated in California, until to-
day our state is a Mecca for prize
fighters, much to our discredit.
'Our people have the right to de-
mand that prize fighting shall cease In
this state and it will if our present
laws are enforced, especially If cur
courts follow the decisions of the su-
preme courts of our sister states in de-
fining a prize fight.
I'm my opinion a prize fight exists
when there is AN expectation Of re-
ward to he gained by the contest or
competition, either to be won from tn"
contestant or to be otherwise reward
ed. coupled with an intent to infilct
upon such contestant some degree OF
bodily harm. -
Quoting excerpts from descriptive
newspaper reports Of several recent
ring contests, including those between
Woleast and Nelson and the Moran
Mccarthy match, McCarthy's death
being a result of the latter. the COVER
nor's letter continues:
"If these contests were not prize
fights then the historic battle between
Heenan and Savers was not one.
have no doubt the coming contest be-
tween Jeffries and Johnson will be
repetition of the brutality mentioned
in the foregoing fights, only on a larg-
er scale.
IF 'sparring exhibitions as permit
tea nv our laws, makes fights where
men are killed, beaten into insensibil-
ity and their faces cut into ribbons are
Lawful! acts. then it is time the Legis-
lature should interfere and make such
exhibitions a felony. Such contests are
prize fights not permitted by the law
and should be punished as such. Those
who engage in them are prize fighters
and make their living by fighting eaci,
other for prizes or rewards.
1.-THE whole business is demoralizing
TO the youth of our state, cGrrupt'
public morals, is offensive to the senses
of great majority of our citizens and
should be abated as 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 inter-
ested to proceed as advertised by them
then | desire you. on behalf Of The
people of the state to gather all evil
dence possible and if the contest is
carried out as advertised and the par
ties fight for purse or for reward.
and 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 felony charge for vio-
lating Section 412 of the penal code.
yours truly,
E''T'T :"