A DISGRACEFUL EXHIBITION .

Temuka Leader, Issue 1884, 27 April 1889, Page 4

A DISGRACEFUL EXHIBITION .

At "Wanganui on Wednesday night the Laing-Smith glove contest was interfered with by the police after 13 rounds. They were both allowed out on bail later on by giving sureties to the amount of £6OO. When the police arrested the men the crowd jeered them, and cheered Smith for his plucky fight. It is impossible to say in whose favor the match would end, as neither of the men were done up, though possibly Laing, from his fresh condition, had the best of it. The fight lasted 49 minutes. The combatants were taken to the police station, and charged with a breach of the Police Offences Act. Inspector Pardy says that ho stopped the fight because it became a brutal affair, each man trying to inflict as much bodily harm as possible to his adversary. Smith was covered with scars on the neck, and one eye was closed. He was fighting at a great disadvantage, and, as he was brutally punished, the inspector ordered their arrest. The conditions of the fight were that in the event of the police interfering, the match to be fought to a finish within 48 hours. Inspector Pardy states that he considers the exhibition to have been a pure and simple prize fight, except that gloves were used. The men were brought before the court on two charges on Thursday, and dismissed. It is now believed the fight will be finished in private. Three hundred persons paid 5s each to witness the exhibition.