Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-16
GOV. G|LLETT MAY
HOLD UP BIG FIGHT
Orders Attorney General Webb to
Take Jeffries-Johnson Scrap Into
the Courts at Once.
BOILERMAKER SKEPTICAL;
JOHNSON PHILOSOPHIC
Frisco Mayor Says Contest Will Go
On-Executive Is Said to Have
Taken Action to Save Exposition.

SAN FRANCISCO, June ft.-There will
be no fight between James J. Jeffries ana
Jack Johnson in California on July OF
on any other date within the borders of
this state if Gov. James n. Gillett is
successful in action begun by him yes
terday. In effect, in a letter to L. S.
Webb, attorney general, he orders that
the fight be prevented. Directly he in
structs that official to begin action to
have the promoters of the contest en-
Joined.
But If the courts decline to grant
restraining order, the attorney general is
given positive instruction to gather evil
dence against principals and all inter-
ested in conducting the fight, for their
prosecution under the penal code, subse-
quent to what the governor says will be
commission of a felony-the promoting
and carrying on of prize fight.
Gov. Gillett, in his letter. declares that
the supreme court of California has
never defined a prize fight, and suggests
that an opportunity be given it to do So
This is taken by those interested to in
dictate the governors intention to press
his opposition to the end.
Also Forbids Kaufman Bout.
While the status of the fight is in an
unsettled condition the sporting frater-
nifty is much cast down, and it is gener-
ally believed that the death knell of
prize fighting in California, the mecca
of prize fighters" according to the gov
errors letter. has been sounded. . This
belief is borne out by the fact that the
governor telegraphed to Attorney General
Webb later in the day to take similar
action as to the fight scheduled for June
IS in San Francisco between Sam Lang
ford and Al kaufman.
The Governors Letter.
The governors letter follows:
State of California,
Executive Office,
Sacramento, June IA. 1910.
Hon. L. S. Webb, Attorney General, San
Francisco.
Dear Sir: / desire to call your atten-
ton to a so-called prize fight to take
place the Fourth of July next in the
city of San Francisco between Jim JEFF
fries and Jack Johnson.
Many complaints are made at this OF
flee by prominent citizens of this city
protesting against this so-called fight,
and requesting that some action be taken
by the proper authorities TO stop the
same.
TIL district attorney at San Francisco
has informed me that he does not pro-
poSe ~ Interfere III tHe iidttei.
The first session of the legislature held
in this state in the year 1850 enacted
law making it felony for two persons
to fight each other upon a previous
agreement, upon wager for money or.
any other reward. This law has been
amended from time, to time, hut never
so as to make prize fighting lawful.
In 1903 the legislature again amended
the law relating to prize fighting. While
the law. as amended, permitted spar
ring exhibitions for a limited number of
rounds with gloves to be held by do
mestic incorporated club it did not re-
move the ban which the laws of this
state has always placed upon prize
fights, and while a ''sparring exhibition
under certain conditions and restrictions
is permissible under this act, a prize
fight still remains felony.
Why Action Is Advised.
Therefore the question arises What is