The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-06-16

voted much time today to conferences
with their attorney, Herbert ChOyn-
ski Whatever the course OF legalSde-
fense decided upon IL Will probably
not be given out unifWebb has made
i statement .tI~ III w
Opinion Without Delay -
Rickard said that Webb had propi-
ised him because of the great eX.
ponsc under which the promoters have
been In erecting the arenn and other
matters connected With the fight. that
his opinion would be forthcoming
Without delay Rickard expects II
within two days. In the meantime.
he said, he would make ready TO take
the fight TO Nevada or Utah II COM
PEELED to do go.
Just what Will be the nature Of the
legal proceedings instituted by the at
torney general Is not known. The gov
neror's lettcr Is positive in directing
that the courts be asked to intervene.
and urges definition OF prize fighting
by the supreme court Because OF
this. It Is believed that Webb will
apply for writ OF mandamus before
the states highest tribunal, thus
bringing all parties before that body
for a hearing. and securing 3 tenn
porary writ of injunction pending n
decision. BY this step he would avoid
delay, since the promoters would have
no appeal 4 judgment was rendered
against them.
the Governors Letter to Webb.
The governor. In his letter. declares
the toleration of prize flghting In Call
fornia TO be disgrace TO the state.
Tho letter follows:
II desire 10 call your attention TO
n so-callod prize fight 10 take place
on The Fourth Of July next In The city
of San Francisco. between jim Jefrries
and Jack Johnson Many complaints
are received al this Office from promi-
nent citizens OF the state protesting
against this so-called fight. and re-
questing that some action be taken
by the proper authorities TO stop the
same
"The district attoTney G: gao Fran.
cisco has informed me that he does
not propose to interfere in the mat
ter. The FIRST session or the legfs'
lature held In this state in the year
1860 enacted a law mnking It a felony
for two persons to fight each other
upon a previous agreement upon a
wager for money or any other reward
This has been amended from time
TO time, but never so az To make prize
fighting lawful In 1909 the legisla
ture again amended the law relating
10 prize fighting While the law. as
amended. permitted 'sparrIng exhibl
tons for a limited number OF rounds,
with gloves. to he held by a domestic
Incorporated club. 1t did not remove
the ban which The laws OF this state
has always placed upon prize fights
and while q Sparring exhibition
Prize Fight Felony,
Under certain conditions and re-
strIctions Is permissible under this
act, a prize fight stlll remains fel
ony. Therefore the question arises
what is prize fight. and what Is a
'spaTriDg exhibition The former is
n crime. the latter is lawful 1t Is
claimed by many that the contest
soon to take place between Jefries
and Johnson IS 10 be q prize fight
as that term Is understood In the
law, and therefore crime under ouI
statutes. II this is true it should be
prevented, but II carried out the In
terested parties should be punished
as provided by law
II believe that you should inves
tigate the matter at once. and take
such legal steps as may be proper. In
your Judgment, II warranted by the
facts In presenting the case to the
court for lts decision. and ask To have
all interested parties. enjolned pend
ing the hearing ~
Mecca for Prize Fighting.
"SInce the amendment OF the law
in 1895 permitting sparrIng eXhibI
tions prize fighting. under the guise
OF this amendment has greatly in
creased, and has been tolerated In
California until today our state Is Z
mecca for prize fighters. much to cuI
discredit Our people have tho right
TO demand prize lighting shall cease
in this state. and IL will if our pres
eut laws are enforced, especially 81
our courts follow the decisions of the
supreme courts of our sister states ir
defining prize fight. In Michigan d
prize fight exists when there is an
expectation Of reward to be gained by