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W: TW]m Hv ^y4;igfr:A *STOP PRIZE FIGHTINGPugs and Their Cappers Will BeVagged in Futurethe SheriffA fake prize fight between two al-Ieged pugilists last evening has determined Sheriff Kelly to put Into execution a plan he has had In contemplation for some months past, namely to call a halt for ever In these so-called ring contests in Bakersfield. Nobody wants them, not even the sporting element generally, and they are a disgrace to the city. Some weeks ago Sheriff Kelly looked up the law very carefully as to his right to act. He found that the so-called prize fights are semi-legallzed by being “pulled off’’ under the auspices of a local athletic association and under certain conditions, the sheriff could not interfere. But Mr. Kelly has another way of reaching the plug-uglies, t- e ,cappers and hangers-on who in-flt;it this city by reason of the alleged prize fights, and that Is to proceed against them under the vagrancy law.A lot. of undesirable characters come ir.to the town with each recurring prize fight and claim to bo “trainers” or “rubbers” or “preliminary men” and so, having a visible means of support, declare themselves exempt from charges of vagrancy. They have escaped arrest heretofore under such i plea- but In the future they will have opportunity to tell the police judges a tout themselves and so keep out of jail if they can.The next fake pugilist who shows up in town and advertises himself as a principal in a prize fight and all of ftis hanger-ons as well will be promptly “vaged” by the sheriff and given* an opportunity to explain their status in the justices court.Sheriff Kelly today notified the fightpromoters of his intention and it Is not likely that the city will bo Inflicted by any more such disgraces as was witnessed at Scribnor’s last evening.Last Night's Fake.A large crowd filled tho* Opera House last night to boo tho big boxing carnival and match botwoon “Kid” Williams and “Dutch” Thurston which had been advertised, but after seeing a few rounds of tlio poorest and most unsportsman like fight they left in disgust. Thurston was given the de* cisidn on a foul in the third round.The “Kid” mado a few weak punches at Thurston and then each made a few sallies. In tho third a little Jolt in the jaw put Thurston on tho mat and as he took to his feet ho was floored again. Then Williams showed his lack of sportsmanship and made a deliberate foul by striking Thurston while lie was down. Eggort, who ref-oed, gave the decision to Thurston and a mob crowded toward the ring but the officers kept them back.For sonio unknown reason, Burge, who was scheduled to bo tho referee Ndid not show up and at tho last minute Tom Eggort was asked to fill the place. There can be no doubt that, as far as ho was concerned, the thing was square, but when the fighting element giving odds that Thurston would win before the sixth round and then when such dirty deliberate fouling was done there could be no doubt that it was a fake.“Montana Red” knocked out “Kid” Hamilton in tho second round of tho preliminary. This fight was short and fast and gave more satisfaction than the big fake which followed.
Newspaper Details
Daily Californian
Bakersfield, California, US
Fri, Jun 16, 1905
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
John H.
IL, USA 17 Jun 2018
Other Publications Near Bakersfield, California
The Berkshire County Eagle
Southern Californian and Kern Weekly Courier
The Weekly Californian
Kern County Californian
Daily Californian
