Evening star., 1925-05-23
CLUB WILL DEFY
PRIZE FIGHT BAN
Goes Ahead With Tuesday
Bout Despite Edict of
Prosecutor.

Officials of the National Capital
Sporting Club today accepted a chal-
lenge laid down yesterday by District
Attorney Peyton Gordon and hurled
defiance at his ultimatum against
prize fighting" by preparing to stage,
on June 4, at the Washington Audi.
torium, scheduled contest between
Young" Stribling and Jack Stone.
Aroused at the action Of Mai. Cor
don in ordering their pugilistic show
closed last night, Frank Dane, presi-
dent of the club, following q confer
ence with the club attorneys, wired
the matchmaker of the Stribling bout
that the engagement would take place
and to disregard rumors that it has
been called off,"
So confident were club officials that
the fight next Tuesday would go for
ward without interruption, and de-
spite the edict of the District attorney.
that the impression prevailed that in
junction proceedings would be resort
ed to as a final measure, If necessary.
Denies Law Violation.
Meanwhile Mr.. Dane issued a state
ment denying that the three bouts
which have been staged at the Audi
torium since the organization of the
club several months ago were in any
sense a violation of the law.
"In the opinion of members and
officers of this club and it's legal
counsel, we believe that we have been
within the law in spirit is well as fact
in the manner in which we have con-
Quoted this club" the statement read.
1--WE are conducting a high-class
club, holding athletic exhibitions for
members only. We have been running
our athletic nights in a clean, high
class way since February without any
interference whatsoever or intimation
that we were not fully within the law.
AS legal action was threatened at the
last minute last evening, we consid-
cred 1t best to call off our athletic
night at the Auditorium and straighten
out this matter with the authorities
without mountaineering our members
in any way. We are confident of our
ability to do this.
Tickets to be Exchanged.
Members who paid their assess
ment for last night can have their
tickets exchanged for the Young
Stribling-Jack Stone exhibition June
L."
A number of patrons who were dis
appointed when they appeared at the
Auditorium last night only to find the
fight off. appeared at the Offices of
the club in the Bond Building today
to discuss the situation.
They were told that refund of the
money they had paid the club was
out of the question, as the sum rep
resented dues paid for membership in
the club. They were informed their
tickets for last nights ill-fated bout
would be exchanged for the Stribling
match.
Gordon Cites Code.
Maj. Gordon announced today that
he acted against the club because his
attention had been called to evidence
indicating that the matches they were
holding were violating section 876 of
the District code concerning prize
fighting"
This section reads as follows:
Amy person who shall voluntarily
engage in pugilistic encounter be-
tween man and man or a fight between
a man and bull or any other animal.
for money or other thing of value, or
for any championship, or upon the re-
suit OF which any money or anything
Of value is bet or wagered, or to see
which any admission fee is charged
either directly or indirectly, shall be
deemed guilty Of a felony, and upon
conviction shall be punished by i'm.
more than five years.
Says Charges Screened.
According to Maj. Gordon, the club
has been charging an admission fee
to the bouts, screening this fee behind
the term club assessment" He said
that all bona fide clubs he knew of
have clubhouse and are operating
along generally accepted lines.
Questioned concerning other fistic
encounters being sponsored by several
other organizations in the District the
District attorney said that he had no
evidence against any other body.
Il am determined to enforce the law
as it stands" he declared. IF evi.
dence is presented to me showing that
other clubs or organizations are VIC.
laung the prize-fghting law, l shall
take steps to stop them"
Not until yesterday did I receive
information convincing me that the
National Capital Sporting Club was
not complying with the law. AS a
duly constituted law enforcement
officer 1 was compelled to act. l can.
not allow the law to be flouted, either
directly or indirectly, as the statute
is very plain and quite broad.
organizations that stage fights for
which no admission fee is charged,
and on which no championship or
other award depends, need have no
fear that 1 will interfere with them.
1 must abide by the law"
Referring to the bouts put on from
time to time at the City Club, Maj
Gordon expressed the opinion that