Dixon in Court By Rob Snell

[Mofo2]

The Boston Daily Globe

21 August 1895

Dixon In Court

Leonard, He Said, Was a Little Excited.

Both Men Treated The Whole Affair as a Huge Joke.

They and Their Backers Each Held in $500.

Last Night's Tournament Declared Off.

Acting Chief of Police Said He Would Allow No Fighting.

NEW YORK, Aug 20— George Dixon, the featherweight champion boxer, and his handler, Joe Jordan of Boston, Mike Leonard, Dixon's antagonist, Tom O'Rourke and Parson Davies, the two pugilistic managers, who were arrested last night for participating in and aiding and abetting an alleged prize fight at the academy of Music, were arraigned before Magistrate Kudlich this morning in the Yorkville police court.

The magistrate adjourned the hearing in the case until tomorrow at 2 o'clock in the afternoon in order that more evidence may be obtained as to the real character of the proceedings when the arrests were made. The alleged prize fighters and their managers were released and their ball continued.

The appearance of an array of prisoners so distinguished in the fistic arena attracted a large crowd of spectators to the court room, which was packed to suffocation.

The sidewalk in front of the building was blocked with people anxious to catch a glimpse of the pugilistic stars. Dixon appeared on the scene decorated by a beautiful black eye, but apart from this neither man showed any effects of the alleged fight.

Inspector Cartright made the charge against the fighters. He produced in court the gloves, which had been captured last night. According to his account, the exhibition last night had proceeded in as orderly fashion as could be expected for one of its kind until the stars appeared. The bout between Dixon and Leonard, however, had hardly been started, he said, before It was evident that there was going to be trouble.

The two men rushed at each other, exchanged several hard blows and then clinched. Dixon's manager, O'Rourke, at this point sprang into the ring and tried to separate the fighters, but was unequal to the task. By this time the spectators were on their feet shouting encouragement to the boxers,

"Kill the *nicer*" was the cry, and the crowd showed its appreciation of the scene in various ways. The police decided to take a hand at this stage, and took possession of the ring. Even then they had trouble in separating the boxers.

As soon as the boxers were arrested the spectators were dismissed, and Dixon and Leonard, with their managers and the men who were in the ring at the time, were placed under arrest.

Lawyer Dinnean, who appeared for Dixon, was then given a chance to explain. He said that the contest was a purely scientific one, and should not be considered a prize fight. The men wore gloves weighing six ounces, and there was no intention of a knockout on either side.

The lawyer asked that the case be dismissed on those grounds, and called attention to the decision of Judge Clarence In 1889 in the case of the Sullivan- Greenfield fight in Madison sq garden. Magistrate Kudlick suggested that the case be adjourned till tomorrow afternoon,

and the men were released on $500 ball.

Dixon's manager, O'Rourke, when asked about the matter said: "I have given exhibitions of this kind in all parts of the country, and this is the first time that there has been any interference by the police. There is something behind this. I guess somebody wants a handshakeâ€.

Dixon and Leonard seemed to treat the affair as a huge joke.

"O, this amounts to nothing," said Dixon; "Leonard simply got a little excited, that's all. O, yes, we are on perfectly friendly terms. The boy got a little bit rattled, that's all."

Parson Davies and Tom O'Rourke, managers of last night's exhibition which was to have been continued tonight, had a talk today with acting chief of police Conlin. , They deprecated last night's affair, and wanted to know what the acting chief intended to do regarding tonight's

proposed exhibition.

Mr Conlin told them so long as there was no slugging, and the boxers confined themselves to giving a scientific exhibition, the police would not interfere, but he assured them that if the boxers resorted to fighting they would be arrested again. O'Rourke and Davies had a consultation, after which they informed acting chief Conlin that they had decided not to continue the tournament tonight.