FARR AND HIS MANAGER

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 55, 27 November 1937, Page 17

FARR AND HIS MANAGER

LAW FIGHT IN CHANCERY "SRONGE SATURATED WITH ALCOHOL"

Tommy raxt and his manager, Ted Broadribb, were "ringside" spectator3 of the first round of their law fight in the Chancery Division yesterday, states the News Chronicle of October 28. Farr, smartly dressed in a light brown lounge suit, sat in the back of the Court, some distance from Broadribb, ljstening to counsel arguing, Tliey heard oounsel tell Mr Justice Crossman how Broadribb "found** Far when he wa s comparatively unknorfla. Farr flescribed, in an affidavit, how after his fight with Louis, he fell into a faint for about 25 minutes when Broadribb ilapped a sponge saturatea with alsohol over his eyes. Mr Andrew- Clark, for Broadribb, inoved for an interim injunction against Farr.

"Exercising His Talent." Broadribb sou'ght to restraih Farr from taking part in a boxing exhibition at Birmingham on Noyexriber 1, until judgment in the action, or from laking part in any boxing contest or "otherwise exeroising his talent" except with, -the consent of> and *a» dlrected by Broadribb. The injunction also sought to , rastrain Farr from allowing his name to be nsed in any commercial enterprise without first obtaining the perir.ission of Broadribb. Mr Clark said that Broadribb wai

seekfng to restrain Farr from acting in breach of two contracts with him dated March 18, 1935, and July 26, 1937. Broadribb was a well-known boxers' manager of 29 years' experience and his boxers had wori 19 championships. * ' i;i„. "Contract Ended'f Plea Mr Alexander Grant, K.C., for Farr, interposed with the objection-.that the contract sued upon had- beeri put an end to by mutual consent, or-.it had justified repudiation by Farr. It was impossible to grant an injunction in respect of a contract which had come to an end, he added. Mr Justice Crossman said it was a: case in which he might have to hear witnesses. Mr Grant: There are other objections. Mr Broadribb decides to remain Farr's manager, although he has said he is not on speaking terms with him. The only substratum of the case is money, and we are prepared to pay into Court if he is entitled to it. Mr Justice Crossman: Are you prepared to pay a substantial sum into Court? Mr Grant: Yes, more than he can possibly want. ' "His present position," said Mr Clark, referring to'Farr, "is due very largely -to Mr Broadribb's . efforts In bringing him forward. Now that he ha# pstablished a world-wide reputa-

tion, he is seeking to kick down the j ladder by which he climbed the I fence." i Farr'* Denial Farr, in an affidavit, denied that during the first 12 months of his engagement with him, Broadribb did not receive his full percentage. He did not advance Farr fl50, and it was never suggested that that -sum was owing to him. It was not until the contest with Baer that Broadribb began to show any real interest in him, Farr alleged. Describing his fight with Louis, Farr added, referring to Broadribb: "Whilst the fight was in progress he acted as what is known as 'chief seeond,' and in that capacity he seemed to do everything possible to cause me to lose the fight. Hp was continually. arguing with my trainer and also with Job Churchill, my adviser during the contest. This caused me to become very perturbed and excited and distracted my attention from the fight. "When my eyes were cut he producpd a bottle containing a mixture that was unknown to me, and he had no wadding, with the result that when he applied this mixture from the bottle it fell into my eyes and I was unable to see properly for the nexi two rounds, The mixture itself was not of any use and almost blinded me, "Furthermore, he allowed this. mixture to fall on my gum-shield, and when he placed the gum-shield in my mouth it was covered with the mixture and I was uhable to use the gum-shield for four rounds.

- "It was his duty as a manager to see that I was provided with several gum-shields, but there was only one available. I "During the seventh round I received. two hard blows on the chin, and, on returning to my corner, Broadribb said: You nearly took a dive,' meaning I was almost ready to quit. This again had a very bad effect on me. 1 "As soon as the contest was finished Broadribb rushed to my opponent in the centre of the ring, congratulated him, and left me in my corner in a helplqss eondition,. being almost blinded by the cuts under my eyes." | ' Louis Punches "Furthermore," added the affidavit, "he made unfavourable comments to the Press about me. He left me to go to the dressiftg room the best way I could; with the assistance of my trainer. My trainer took me to /mr hotel, and half an hour afterwards Broadribb arrived and found me lying on the hed in pain with severe bruising, on the face and head, caused b^ Louis' punches. "My trainer was attiending to my eyes and Broadribb pushed him aside and slapped a sporige satur'ated with alcohol over my eyes, with the result that I suffered terrible pain and .fell into a. faint for about 25 minutes. 'The result of this conduct on the part ' of Broadribb is thfit I cannot bear him in my presence,' and it is quite impossible that the relations of boxer hnd manager should continue between us." Dispute Settled When the hearing was resumed it was announced that the dispute had been settled. Farr undertook, pending trial of Broadribb's action in a higher trlbunal, to pay 25 per cent. oi his earnings into Court, also £500 to meet the percentage on past sums received. The final round! A cablegram published in Thursday's Auckland Star, flated London, 'Nove'mber 17, read: — "It was announced in the Law Courts that the Farr-BrOadribb litigation.had been settled on the basis of the Welsh hoxer -paying his manager £3000 in dispute of all claims."