Why Slavin Was Mobbed

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 86, 14 January 1890, Page 3

Why Slavin Was Mobbed

London, December 24. At the special meeting of the members of the Pelican Club to day it was resolved that a letter of sympathy be aent to Slavin, expressing warm approval of his courage in the face of the ruffianism to which he was ex posed. It was also determined that the club should recognise Slavin aa •champion of England, and should present him with a.' belt and purse John Fleming, Smith's manager ■who is master of tbe ceremonies at the Pflii an Club, was suspended from hjs ■duties pending inquiry into the affai and explanation. In an interview wi it the committee afterwards, Fleming aaid that undoubtedly Smith's friends, hired the mob of roughs who attacked Slavin; and added that the connect ion between. Smith and himself had been severed for ever. The attack uuou alavin appears to have originated from 6. quarrel be tween Abington and Slavin some Tveeks since. At the - beginuing of November, Abington in&ulted Savin while at supper in the house of Via count Maudeville (the eldest son of the Duke of Manchester), at which Bessie Belwood, the famous soubrette, and others were present. In there cult Slaviu kicked Abington down «tair&. Abiugton swore to ba re venged, and when the time for thifight approached sent Jem Carney, a third-rate pugilisi, to Birmingham to hire a number of roughs, and Carney ■engaged some of the worst characters of the town and district, one of the men engaged having only just completed a sentence of fifteen years' penal servitude for manslaughter under very brutal circumstances, Aldington also paid Charley Mitchell, the boxing champion, £109 to break his promise to second Slavin in the fight.