Fight in Taxi

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 940, 5 April 1930, Page 9

Fight in Taxi

BILLIARDS STARS IN BRAWL McConachy Bound Over “I’LL KNOCK YOUR HEAD OFF” HF SAYS DURING a professional game of billiards in England, Clark McConachy, of New Zealand, and Willie Smith, of England, engaged in an argument which, with McConachy as aggressor, developed into a brawl in a taxi. At the subsequent assault action at Court, McConacbx was bound over to keep the peace until he leaves England.

United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 9.30 a.m. LONDON, Friday. Clark McConachy, the New Zealand billiards player, who was summoned by Willie Smith (England) for using threats, was bound over until April April 10, when he leaves England, and was ordered to pay the costs. The assault summons was dismissed. Mr. Butlin, who appeared on behalf of Smith, declared McConachy had

complained on March 24 that the balls had not been washed. It was pointed out that this was MoConachy’s fault, as he had arrived late. McConachy subsequently made other complaints about the table, and also declared his ball was flawed and that he was playing under a disadvantage. The referee and manager examined the balls, and decided the complaint was unjustified. As McConachy insisted, Smith agreed to use the ball him Self, and

later the New Zealander alleged the j balls were not a neutral set. Smith agreed to go out to weigh them, so the players and the referee engaged a taxi, In which McConachy, in a vile temper, repeated his allegations. Smith replied: “It is a lie.” McConachy stood up threateningly and cried out: “I’ll knock your head off.” Smith shouted: “Driver, stop! Whereupon McConachy knocked him back in the seat. “I will kill you before you leave Manchester,” shouted McConachy. When the referee attempted to pacify him, he added: “Yes, and you as well.” McConachy’s counsel, Mr. Rycroft, declared McConachy had simply leaned forward in the taxi and pushed Smith back into the seat. The words suggested as threats, if uttered, were only terms of abuse. Smith had acted childishly in calling the police. McConachy said in evidence that he had put his hands on Smith’s chest. The referee caught his arm, and as two were against him, he threatened to clean them both up. He had thought the balls- were the same weight, but differed in size, justifying his complaint. “It is very regrettable that such a ease was brought. It is a pity that it was not settled privately, as such a dispute between two such eminent players does not add prestige to English sport,” said the magistrate, in dismissing Smith’s summons of assault. Smith’s counsel said McConachy’s suggestion that the balls were not neutral was tantamount to a charge against Smith or the oflicials of dishonesty or trickery, as they were always sealed up at each session. When in the taxi. McConachy repeated to Smith: “They were your own set.” In the course of cross-examination, McConachy denied that he had had a row with the ship’s captain coming from Australia.