[2] On November 17, his bout against Brooklyn champion John J. Dwyer at the Lyceum Theatre was interrupted by the New York City Police Department who stopped the fight and the match was declared a draw.
[1] He often frequented Harry Hill's bar, a hugely popular sportsman resort and the center of New York's sporting culture during the late 19th century.
[1] On March 31, 1881, at a testimonial benefit in Harry Hill's resort, an offer was made by New York sportsmen in attendance to give $50 to any man who, using Marquis of Queensbury rules, could last four rounds with John L. Sullivan.
Refereed by Matt Grace, a well-known collar and elbow wrestler, while Dick Hollywood and Billy Madden were the cornermen for Mahan and Sullivan respectively.
[3] After holding a two-day exhibition bout at the People's Theater in St. Louis, Missouri from November 5–6, Mahan and Sullivan were arrested by authorities while he and the others were preparing to leave the following morning.
The two were charged with violating a state law prohibiting public sparring and boxing exhibitions but, after posting bail, they were forced to forfeit their bonds in order not to make their scheduled tour of California.
He later joined Sullivan on another national tour organized by manager Pat Sheedy and included Joe Lannon, George La Blanche, Jimmy Carroll and Patsy Kerrigan.
According to Harry Hill, while testifying before the Lexow Committee, he claimed that Mahan was working as a bartender in Boston when questioned by lawyer John Goff.