LAW v. SCOTTY McDOUGALL

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1044, 7 August 1930, Page 1

LAW v. SCOTTY McDOUGALL

Professional Wrestler Loses

MAGISTRATE TAKES £2 PURSE

Fined For Striking Second

TALK of strangle-holds, scissors and wrist-locks brightened the ordinarily dull air of the Police Court this morning •when William ("Scotty”) McDougall, well-known wrestler, was charged with assaulting Leonard Percival Naylor on the evening of July 14, by striking him on the mouth with his clenched fist. McDougall wrestled with the Law this morning, but was pinned after a short combat, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., giving the verdict to the Law and relieving McDougall of a purse of £2 and costs.

The bout was interesting from the Start to the finish. McDougall, through Jir. Burt, pleaded not guilty to the assault charge. “Defendant is a professional wrestler,' 1 said Sergeant Clarke who was the first witness. ‘‘On the evening cf July 14 he was wrestling with Tom Alley at the Town HtvJl, where I was cu duty. It was a willing match, but defendant’s tactics were rough throughout." In the seventh round McDougall put Alley through the ropes and tied into him on the edge of the wrestling platform above the floor. It seemed that both wrestlers would topple over the edge and drop four or five feet.. ‘‘The referee tried to separate them,” said witness. "However, they wouldn't come apart. The house became excited and the seconds ran in to help the referee to get the men to part. Alley got back into the ring through the ropes, but McDougall became excited when he got to his feet and waved his arms around. Then he struck Naylor, one of Alley's seconds, on the mouth.’’ Mr. Burt: Have you attended many wrestling matches? HAD "SEEN A FEW" Witness admitted he had seen a few. Mr. Burt: There’s a good deal of 'igour displayed by wrestlers, isn’t there? "Playing to the gallery is what I call it," said the sergeant. “Haven't you got a ‘down’ on wrestling?” asked counsel. Witness denied that he was biased. "Surely clenched fists don't come in to the wrestling business?” askad Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. A photograph which appeared in The Sun was produced to show ihe position of the competitors just before the assault occurred. “McDougall was outside the ring when he struck Naylor,” said the witness. “Did you see Naylor have a hold On McDougall?” asked Mr. Burt. Witness: I can't deny it nor admit it. I don’t know. WRESTLING PROCEDURE Counsel: Do you know much about ■wrestling procedure?—Not much. "Do you know that if the second of an opponent touches the other wrestler his own man is automatically "isqualified?” asked counsel. Witness oid not. Sub-inspector Shanahan said The Sun photograph did not indicate the true position of the wrestlers at the time the assault occurred. Constable Edwards, who was also on duty on the evening of the match, natd that the wrestling in the seventh tound had finished up outside the ■ opes. The referee had tried to separate the principals and Naylor ood the other seconds had gone to us assistance. As far as witness oould see they were all trying to force toe men apart. th 1 beard McDougall calling out to “Th' 1 ' so,” said the constable. i n t L thel ! se l’arated. Alley got back ,. t 0 tke ring, Naylor got clear—and >oen McDougall hit him.” » üb-Inspector Shanahan: Was there 4n LProvocation?—Not at that time. ine Sub-Inspector: Did you think W’ Ce w- ary *' or tlle seconds to inter,h.e' well, they were trying to get me men back. ollt r : You heard McDougall cad out to Naylor to let go? Iv- c 5 IIe d out to them all as far as Know, said the witness, neonard Percival Naylor, a young nan, described as a labourer, said snrt one °i f Fom Alley’s seconds, Ba the assaulted man.

"GETTING VIGOROUS” wl In the seven th round the two wrest“\h.n Vere vigorous,” he said. AlW° pu - a 011 and threw I edge of tlie platform, roiinn in my corner and ran o™ *vL P « f ‘ vent the men from going them ,e floor. The referee ordered forim,i to break ‘ hut they had to be «r,. apart eventually. Together referee” ° tber second 1 helped the stem!la r u they were separated I Doimoo hack,” said witness. “Metric f! ??t me round the legs and general o throw me and there was a intn me ? ee - When McDougall got mourn 116 ring be struck me on the Which’h C j t t in K the inside of my lip, Mr h n ad t 0 be stitched.” U WCre qUUe frieudly Baylor: Yes—before the match. Rules for seconds govlmrur rt ' Don t you know the rules speeiaii i s® conds ?—There are none Didwt y laid down as far as 1 know. tourhL y ,° u know - vou shouldn’t have McD?,n„ M cDou E a ll?—No. One of Alley alls seconds laid hands on

lley got hack into the ring iounsel? U McDousaU

“Why I didn't let him go was because he had hold of me,” said Naylor, amid a ripple of laughter in the Court. “We admit, that McDougall struck Naylor,” said Mr. Burt. “However, he had provocation and was excited.” Mr. Hunt: I see. That’s part of the game, eh? SHOULD NOT TOUCH WRESTLERS It was an inviolable rule that seconds should not touch the westlers during a bout, argued counsel. If

the referee needed assistance he could call for it and he had not called in this case. “Naylor not only had a hold of McDougall, hut he had a stranglehold around his neck,” said counsel. “McDougall asked him three times to let go. and became excited, striking Naylor on the impulse of the moment when he got to his feet. “NOT ON IMPULSE” Mr. Hunt: Yes, but this blow was struck after the struggle on the platform and not on the impulse of the moment. “But Naylor was still hanging to McDougall when he got to his feet,” protested counsel. The defendant, William McDougall, said that three or four men were on top of him outside the ropes and Naylor had him across the throat. “Three times I asked him ro let go, but he only tightened his grip,” said McDougall. “As soon as I got to my feet, on the spur of the moment I struck him.” Mr. Hunt: Well, that's a candid admission,/any way. If you hit him on the ground, I could understand it better, though. “WELL-KNOWN RULE’ “I was excited and he was still hanging to me,” said wituess. “My seconds knew not to touch the wrestlers. It is well known in the wrestling world.” Sub-Inspector Shanahan: Why didn't you break when told? “Because I was farthest out on the platform and might have dropped over,” said witness. “My seconds did not come around at all, but stayed at the corner.” Tom Alley, the other wrestler in the match on July 14, said he saw that Naylor had hold of McDougall, but he did not hear McDougall ask him to let go. Mr. Burt: If Naylor had taken hold of McDougall if the match had been in the U.S.A., would you have been disqualified ? Alley: Yes, I possibly would be. Counsel: Surely you can say definitely? Alley: That just depends. “NO RIGHT TO INTERFERE” The referee, Den Wilson, said he had asked the wrestlers to break, but had not called for assistance. The second had no right to interfere with a wrestler during a bout. He had seen Naylor take hold of McDougall. Mr. Hunt: Wpuld the wrestler be justified in striking the second? “Certainly, sir,” said the witness. Gordon Hutter, radio sports announcer, said he had the best view in the hall. “I saw Naylor take McDougall round the throat after Alley got back into the ring,” said Hutter. McDougal.'s seconds kept away from the wrestlers. When McDougall got up and struck Naylor the latter was still holding. McDougall shook him clear and struck him. Sub-Inspector Shanahan: Did you think it justified? Witness: Well, I wouldn’t have been where Naylor was for anything. (Laughter.) Mr. Burt said there was no need for any second to prevent the men from falling from the platform to the boards. “These wrestlers are as tough as the boards they fall on.’ he said. “It is perfectly clear that McDougall struck Naylor,” said Mr. Hunt. “He shouldn’t have struck him, but he has been quite candid about the offence. He is fined £2 and costs.”