#OTD in 1896, Texas governor Charles Culberson sent Texas Rangers to El Paso to prevent the Peter Maher-Bob Fitzsimmons prizefight for violating the state’s anti-prizefighting legislation. Their failure to do so shows how entrepreneurs could use the border to defy the law.

The Rangers were met with hostile resistance from the city’s residents, mayor, and city council. Frontier judge and saloon keeper Roy Bean evaded the law telling the press and spectators to meet at El Paso’s rail station.

There they boarded a train that took them to Langtry, Texas and walked to a sandbar in the Rio Grande where Bean had had a ring erected.  The Rangers were rendered ineffective and forced to look on sitting on a small hill overlooking the boxing ring.

In 95 seconds, Fitzsimmons knocked Maher out to capture the heavyweight championship.  Bean’s successful evasion of state authority contributed to his fame.

https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/bean-roy