GROSS LIES, SAYS MURPHY

Chronicle (Levin), 22 August 1947, Page 7

GROSS LIES, SAYS MURPHY

STORY OF FIGHT WITH WILLIE JONES WELLINGTON, August 21. "1 say tliey are gross iios, " .said F,(is Muqih.v in the witness-box tliis nioriiing. His couusel, Mr. V . .1. tStacey, luul asked him if he had heard suggestions ihat his iirst iiglit with Willie •lones was a frame-up. With vivid actions, and in some detail, .Murphy reeouuted his story of his iirst Iiglit with Jones, eiuling with ''a full-blooded lei't cross tiusli on the jaw. ' ' I Murphy is claiiuiug £25 damag-es for j defamation of character froni William I Malthew Brosmui, formerly a inemher j of the coiiiniittee of the Hutt Vallev Hoxing Associatiou. and James Russell Simpson and Alaii Stanley Parkei, nuMiibers of the couneil of tlie New Zealand Hoxing Association. Mr. W. .1. Stacev and Mr. R. E. Hard ing are appearing for Murphy, Alr. J. F. H. Steveiison and Mr. \V. .1. Keiup for Parker and Simpson, aiul Mr. E. 11. Kothwell for Brosuan. Mr. Stacev: In these lights do you fight for any other money but the purs-e? — Apart from film riglits,. uoue. Bettiug? — 1 never bet. Murphy was then quostioned about the fight which had been proposed between himself aud Enright at Timaru. Murjihy said his eye had been cut against Oaltaux. "I couidu't have earricd out the Enright fight for £1,000,000. This was obvious to anyone who had 1 a look at iny eye." . Througlt Galvin | he had obtained a number of good | lights. 1 Galvin had never received a penny S from any of these lights, said Murphy | ''He would not take it if L did offer it to him. ' ' Murphy said he and his trainer, klr. | Parker. had seen Jones sparring and [ noticed that when he went in-punchiug j with two lnmds to the bodv, he left Ithem down for a fraction when he stepped back. Tliev decidcd iu the forthcoming fight to hit him with In left or right cross when he sleppe 1 back in that limnner. Murphy then described the fifth round of the fight. He said: ''.Jones came inside niv guard rattling his two hands to my body — I (leliberatelv left that open. 1 was trying to time him for the iustant he stepped back. Tlie iusiant he stopi>ed 1 moved my right over and chatiged to a southpaw stauce. I hit him with a ful] blooded left cross fl usli to the jaw. Hc sjiun around with the punch and dropped. " Mr. Stacev asked if the Magistrate would like to see the incident demonstrated, but Mr. Goulding decliuvd. Murphy said Ihat after Jones fell ho reulised that the goug had gone. He could n" sa. v liow long. It mighi ■ have been iialf a minute or half n second. He considvred that Jones would have had a hard time beating a full \-ount after that blow. Murphy said that he was very i-udig-naut about Stewart returning his weilerweight tile belt to the Boxiug Association. ITe had never given anv indic.ation that he intehded to relinguisli the welterweight title. Afurjiliy said to Mr. fJtovenson Mtal,

with regard to JokPs's' habit ' of drop ping his hands as'-%e came out of in ligl'.t ing, 'Jones J.iaYT liot given witness ihe opjiortimityAo -flse this opening be i'oie the fifth round. Th'e opening was onlv there for a sf lit secoml and a boxer had to be i'ohdy to take ad- \ antage of it. Murphy said 'Galvin 'could not mako lecisions about lights without eousuiting him. He (Murphy) could tuake a decision on his owus but he had always .'onsulled 'Galvin. Murphy said he knew Galvin had put a statement in the paper after the second Iiglit with Jones. ulvising Murphy to retire. Murphy said the published statement that Jm had relinquishhd the welterweight titlc was uiitrue. Had he received the Lettm which the boxing council sent to him ackuoweldging receipt of the championship belt, he would have infornied the f-onucil to that eft'ect. About the meeting between hiiuselt. ,us wife, Galvin. McGann, Stewart an-1 iVillie Jones in I'uba Street some tiuu after the second fight with Jones. Murpliv said to liis knowledge there was' 110 talk about the two lights. Hc did not liear anybody tell .Tones to keep quiet about purses or threaten Jones. .Murphy said no oue was adniitted tc :iis dressing room at lights without sav ing whoni tliey were aud then tliey wero not always adniitted Prior to the I'aGick fight the Hrim. Minister (Mr. Eraser) aud Mr. Nash had asked to come in. " \Yc said kee,i tliem out," stated Murphy. The Magistrate: ''You niake the t'ourt envious. " William or ''Yank" Davis wg.s tlie last witness cailcd in the case. . He adniitted the autliorship of the lettei which was quoted from 1 >y counsel on Wednesday, in wliicli it was alloged that Percv Galvin,. Mnrphv's numager. had agreed for three "iixed" lights fo» Murphy in Australia \yith \'ic PatncK l)a\is adniitted he had not- Galvin authority for the statement and sai 1 lie liud ineluded it in tlie letter io rtllav any feais which Mrs. Patriek ruiglit have boeause she hau tol.i Patriek after liis fight with klurphy that he would not fight any more welterweiglii eontests. A n adjouriinienl was taken until Monday, Septeniber lo, because the Magistrate, Mr. Goulding, S.M., haa other engagements.