Evening star., 1932-08-14
Fifty Years Ago
In the Star

The question of whether prize fight
ing in the District Of Columbia was
Prize Fights 'SS.S'e iaW was raised aaei 50 50
And the Law ssers sse fole%ins nsV as iDo n rRs
Star of August 8, 1882:
"Mr. John Collins, the 'castiron
man. who has made arrangements TO
fight Ed Donnelly with soft gloves, had
an interview with Judge Smell in his
office at the Police Court yesterday to
get his opinion as to whether 1t was
against the law Of the District to hgnt
with gloves. Judge Smell referred him
to the District authorities, but told him
the presumptions were against the per-
mission of such sports in the District.
This interview resulted in Collins
addressing a communication to District
Attorney Corkhill, saying: Having
read in the city papers that 1t has
been held in New York City that glove
fights are illegal and that the police
are notified to suppress them. l ADDRESS
this note to you to know that II by
the laws in this District such fights are
forbidden, and, If so, by what statute or
act Of Congress. have proposed to
have such a fight In the District and,
not wishing to violate any law OF the
same, I would like to know whether
the police force may be authorized to
disturb the arrangements
"Mr. Charles S. Moore, prosecuting
attorney of United States cases before
the Police Court, told Star reporter
this afternoon that he questioned the
right of Collins to ask an opinion on
this subject from the District attorneys
ONCE, but If the major Of police or any
reputable citizen who was not engaged
In the business would ask he would
feel called upon to furnish an elaborate
opinion, but would not do so for one
of the participants. Mr. Moore states
that after q thorough examination of
all the authorities on the subject he
finds no statute against such practice,
but finds ample English and American
authorities under which action for as
Sault could be maintained against the
participants. Mr.. Moore further states
that they will be notified that they
will be liable for assault if they fight
in the District, and the police will have
the authority to arrest them as they
would any two men caught fighting in
the street, it being a misdemeanor.
The following in The Star Of August
9, 1882, indicates that Congress had its
Pension ago % even as it it has
Troubles. been having them lately:
AiouoieS' I'm the Senate yester-
day Mr.. Hawley entered a vigorous pro-
test against opening the door to an
enlargement Of the pension rolls. He
said the soldiers of the country who
had imperiled their lives for its preser-
vation were not asking for support at
the hands Of the Government, and they
do not desire to bankrupt the country
not to be influenced by touching ap-
peals into doing that which commits
the Government to the support of the
children of deceased soldiers, irrespective
of their age The bill under considera-
ton was to allow pension to child
of q deceased soldier who, though of
age. is unable to procure a livelihood
because Of physical incapacity. Mr..
Hawley, admitting that the case was
perhaps one calculated to appeal to
the sympathy Of Senators, said very
pertinently that 1t was not an isolated
ore; that, no doubt, thousands Of 9TH
ers, children Of dead soldiers, were
similarly situated, and to establish the
precedent Of providing a support for
such from the Treasury in one in
stance would be to invite others to
ask for it, and there is no telling how
much money it might cost"
"It appears to be a very plain
proposition" says The Star of August
r.n;,,,.;u II. 1882, that if Con-
Legislative gress is to dispose of
Congestion. the business which
comes before it some
more expeditions method Of transact
ing it must be adopted. During the
late session 10,076 bills and joint resolu-
tons were introduced and by far the