The Fight That Sparked a Spasm of Virtue

Yakima had a spasm of virtue last Friday night, and while a boxing exhibition was in progress at the opera house, Sheriff Simmons appeared with a warrant for the arrest of the principals, A. A. Allen and R. P. Carroll. The complaint was sworn to by the new prosecuting attorney, Jerry Rochford, who charged that a boxing match or prize fight was in progress in violation of the statutes. The defendants were taken before Judge Henton, where they demanded an immediate examination. The testimony went to show that there was a simple exhibition of boxing, but the difference between a match and an exhibition did not seem to be very clear to the justice, and he bound the defendants over. City Clerk F. M. Spain appeared for the prisoners and he roundly scored the prosecution for bringing such an uncalled-for suit, which could result in nothing but piling up costs for the county to settle. Mr. Spain’s remarks were vigorously applauded by the spectators. Bonds were readily furnished by those who characterized the arrest an outrage.