PROFESSOR J.STAGPOOLE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 75, 20 July 1914, Page 7

PROFESSOR J.STAGPOOLE

HOW HE OUTED THE CHAMPION Professor J. J. Stagpoole, who is well known in Taranaki, in a letter to an Eltham resident, details an experience he had while travelling as advance agent for a company of which his family were the stars. It will be remembered (states the Argus) that the Professor wore his hair rather long, and in a. place in Australia, called Tumat, thi s called forth some ridicule from some would-be funny men. Jack went up to the biggest—a man of 6ft.—and wrung liis nose, whereupon it was suggested that an adjournment should be made to the back yard of the hotel where differences could be settled. Jack stripped off, but his opponent only removed his coat, thinking no doubt, that he had a soft thing on. However, he seemed rather timid when Jack shaped up—either at Jack’s style, or the way he stripped—but as lie shaped rather- well, the Professor was cautious for a start. Then, feinting with his left, Jack drew his opponent, and with a right cross sent him down with a heavy blow on the temple. He got up again tlie worse for wear, and stepping in, Jack put a very hard one on to Ids point, and, to use the Professor’s own words, “he hadn’t properly recovered consciousness when I left the town next morning.” The affair created a sensation in the town, as it turned out that the fin an ho disposed of in two hits was the local champion, who was 28 years old, stood 6ft., and weighed 14 stone—and Jack is 66 years of age! The Professor concludes by saying; “If ever I go back to Tumat I can own the town. It pays to know a bit.”