WELL-KNOWN BOXER SHOT

NZ Truth, Issue 1143, 27 October 1927, Page 3

WELL-KNOWN BOXER SHOT

Former Victim of Razor Gang Fatally Wounded BARMAID ACCUSED OF CRIME (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Sydney Representative.) While a white-faced girl moved aimlessly about a flat m Darlinghurst, Sydney, a young man lay groaning m 5i Vincent's Hospital, his body contracted m the agony caused by a bullet wound m Ihe stomach. " The gun went of f . f , It was an accident," he gasped.

THE wounded man was a prominent 1 welterweight boxer, Billy Chambers, whom New Zealand fight fans well remember, and it was m a Darlinghurst lane last week that a bullet laid him low. He died four days later. Although the boxer was said to have told the police that the shooting was an accident, the police were not satisfled with his story. They drew their own conclusions and interviewed the girl m quest of further information. Florrie Masters shared the same flats as Billy Chambers. For some weeks they had resided at Allerton' Flats, Barcom Avenue, Sydney. Florrie Masters is a barmaid at Rose Rooney's Temple Bar Hotel, George Street, Sydney, where she has been employed for some time. I She was charged last week with causing grievous bodily harm to the young boxer, but an hour and a-half after his death she was arrested and charged with feloniously slaying and remanded to the Central Police Court, bail being refused. The police were not long m learning of the shooting.

Their information came from the hospital, and to the hospital they went, to find the wounded man m the ministering care of Dr. O'Brien. It was then thought that Chambers' condition was doubtful, but the boxer was well enough to answer a few brief questions from the police. But his answers were not convincing to Inspector Mackay and Detective - Sergeant Lynch. Being police officers, they were dubious about accepting the story that a man could accidentally be shot with a pistol m a laneway at 8 o'c lock m the

only to be arrested later, as already stated. Such is the story based on the statements of the police and the girl. Apart from the present charge against" her the girl's character is not challenged m any way. The young boxer had only recently figured m arguments with the slinking, preying razor gangs of Darling-' hurst. His leg bore grim witness to the truth of that. Just before the end of last year Billy Chambers' instincts of decency caused, him to intervene m a quarrel at Darlinghurst.

A girl was being persecuted b,y a couple of the members of the razor gang. Chambers interfered on the girl's behalf. The young fighter had courage, and no searchlight of publicity had then been turned on the merciless savagery of the razor gang. If Chambers guessed that his successful intervention on behalf of the young woman would provoke the gang's vengeance, he took no precautions to prepare for it. His only weapons were his ready and capable fists, but they are not weapons that could withstand the burning slashes of a naked razorblade. The fighter found it out — to his cost. For some days no attempt at reprisal was made. Then, m the ghostly hours of Christmas morning, vengeance hoverp.d beneath the window of the room m Darling-hurst where the boxer lay sleeping.

One by one, several men climbed to the window, which was cautiously and expertly raised m silence. The finished members of the razor gang know more of crime than morning the mere slashing It is alleged that POISED TO MEET HIS OPPONENT witlj a razor, from the girl they m the ring, Billy Chambers can now Sl I le , ntl £ the ? obtained a different never ste p into the arena again. crawled through story. . the opened window After listening to it they charged the and gathered about the boxer's bed. girl, who was taken before the Central Awake and alert, the boxer sought Police Court on the same afternoon. to meet the danger with his favorite Police Prosecutor Dennis, m apply- weapons of offence and defence, ing for a remand, indicated that he ]g u t one of the men sprang, forward did not consider a heavy bail neces- w ith a revolver upswung, sary. It descended with a savage thud on

According to the police story, as told by Sergeant Dennis, the affairs of the boxer and the barmaid made a rather sorrowful little picture. Chambers was only twenty- five and the girl a year younger. One morning the climax came. Something had happened that had made them both angry. It was stated by Sergeant Dennis that it was alleged that whilst the girl was holding an automatic, it exploded. The next thing she saw was the young man fall m the dirt of the laneway, one hand clutched convulsively to his abdomen. The ambulance was the next pawn m Fate's game. A waggon conveyed Billy Chambers' stricken form to hospital. From there the girl went back tjO the flats, and then accompanied the police to headquarters. Later still she was remanded at the Central Police Court on a small bail, iiiinimiii«imii«iiH«ii"«iminmiiiaiuinniiiniinuiniiiimiuiiiiiiiiJiiiiiiiiiuimiiiiiiminniuiiiii

the boy's head. Chambers rolled back into his bed, bleeding and unconscious. Quick, furtive hands explored his room and such articles of value as were easily removed were taken. But that was not enough to satiate the vengeance of the curs that terrified populous Darlinghurst. Before they departed the dim light shone eerily on a darkly - gleaming steel. It was the dreaded razor blade. The unconscious fighter lay stunned. Then his body quivered as the hollowground blade was drawn m a long and deep slash from his thigh downwards. Blood soaked the bedclothes. Vengeance was satisfied — or almost. The fighter's friends drew their own conclusions, which were that the intention of the slash was to cut a sinew and deprive the young fighter of the activity so vital to his profession. If so, the. gang was unsuccessful. iiMimmmimmiuiuuitironnnmuuMiiuniuuiniwiimiiuniramrauuMnnmmmMuiutMiiimii