BOXING LAW.

Dominion, Issue 1337, 15 January 1912, Page 7

BOXING LAW.

THE MOEAN-DEISCOLL MATCH. By Tclecrapli-l'iws Association- Coryrishl (Kec. January 11, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 13. In the case of Moran and Driscoll, the boxers'who were hound over on 'November 13, the. Magistrate refused to state a ease, and declares that the defence disclosed no "point of law arising for decision. The defendants do not' inteud to move for a mandamus. TEST SUMMONSES AT BIRMINGHAM. The legality of a championship boxiug contest'between'Moran and Driscoll was i .brought. in question on November 13 at 'Birmingham' Police Court. Owen Moran and Jim Driscoll, (he principals, wero summoned -before the stipendiary, the Hon. B. S. Foster, to show cause why they should not lw bound over to bo.of .good behaviour and to keep the peaco, and Gerard Austin, the promoter, of Lonsdale Square, London, was summoned for aiding and abetting tho combatants, who wero matched to box twenty three-minute rounds at tho Sparkbrook Skating Rink, on December 16, for tho ' leather-weight championship>' of the world/ Mr. Marshall Hull, K.C.- Mr. 11. Joy, and Mi'. 11. Grattah Hushc, represented the three defendants: Mr. J. E. Hill, solicitor, appeared on behalf of tho chief confitable, who.instituted the proceedings. Mr. Hill said the proceedings wero instituted not in any puritanical spirit, but interest of true sport, as it was contended that what was contemplated was a prize fight—a money-niaking affair. Driscoll held the feather-weight championship, which he won in 1810 at the National Sporting Club, and he was now challenged by Moran. The men were engaged, according to tho agreement, to box for. twenty three-minute rounds, for (in addition to the championship) ,£2OO a side, a. purso of JC2GOO, and n gold belt of tho value of .2300, tho winner to receive CO per cent., and the loser 40 per cent, of the stakes. He calculated that the one would take .£1560 and the ether. 421010. Mr. Marshall Hall said the defendants were prepared to give an undertaking that the contest would be conducted under the National Sporting Club rule.?. Mr. Hill said he had no knowledge of that. The agreement named "strict Quoensborry rules," oiid there was no reference to points. If it rce-ro going to bo a prize ftght, as he contended, the chief constable was justified in stepping, in. The Sparkbrook Skating Kink would seat 3000 people, and tho price of admission, ranged from ss. to five guineas. The gloves were to bo of four ounces, but it was well known that such gloves could be so , arranged as to inflict as much damage as the knuckles. The main object of each combatant, Mr. Hill said, was to hit the other so hard nM to knock him out. Driscoll had won six fights by tho knock-out blow and Morart four. ■ ■ Police-Constable William Hall, formerly of the 21st Lancers, stated that in 1900 ha won the heavy-weight boxing championship of the Cavalry Brigade at Alder-, shot. Tho intention' of the principals in contest? such as Moran and Driscoll were engaged in was to win by knocking Mr. John Hibbcrt Douglas, president of the Amateur Boxing Association, said that if this match wero declared illegal then all boxing contests must be illegal. . Lord Lonsdale said ho had no reason to ! expect in this case- anything different from.]

what had happened in scoros of other cases that had not been interfered with. A great deal of humbug was talked about knock-out blows. Mr. Eugono Corri, referee in tho proposed contest, said it would be his intention to see thero was no brutality. Evidence was also given by the Ker. Everaxd Digby, cuTate of St. Paul's,' Coventry, who thought this was likely to bo the last match for,many years; Dr. Allport, medical adviser to tho Amateur Boxing Association, who said the knockout blow was not painful; and by other doctors and lay witnesses. Tho stipendiary magistrate, «ftei\ consideration, said that in his opinion this was a prize fight, and he bound the tkree defendants over. | __ j