A FATAL FIGHT.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 141, 22 March 1872, Page 3

A FATAL FIGHT.

[From the L'ciuJiyo Independent, March 4.J The locality of the butts, at tbe Back Creek, was yesterday afternoon the scene of a fight between two larrikins, which Ins, unhappily, had a fatal termination. The names ef the combatants were Gee. Robinson, a shoemaker, residing in Highstreet, and Robert Taylor, an assistant to a storekeeper at Ironbark. It seems that yesterday week, while a number of the Sandhurst larrikins were together at the Chinese Camp, the topic of pugilism was discussed by the fraternity, some of whom becoming excited, challenged each other to combat, and tbe fight which ended fatally yesterday was the result of this discussion. The fight was fixed to take place at the butts,’ and accordingly between 5 and 0 o’clock last evening, a large crowd of persons congregated to witness the disgusting exhibition. The fight is said to have been for money, but since tbe fatal result this lias been denied. There is, however, reason to believe that money was to be the prize. Both pugilists arc not unknown, for Robinson is known among bis fellows by the appelation of tbe ,l St. Kilda Chicken,’’ and Taylor as the “ Cove from Ballarat.” Thirteen rounds were fought, and each time deceased is said to have been worsted, being frequently beaten to the ground. Taylor was a heavily builtyoung man, and Ins adversary was light and nimble. Tin falling to the ground seemed to have a terrible effect upon deceased, as each time ho got up his breathing was heavy, and front the first it was observed that he was overmatched. When the last round was being fought, deceased appeared weak and exhausted, and hardly able to put bis arms up in selfdefence. * When lie was knocked down for the last time, and unfavourable symptoms showed themselves, the backers of Taylor cried off, and every assistance was rendered to him, but lie gradually sank and died, evidently Jrom sheer exhaustion, on the ground. The body was at once removed to Port’s Durham’Ox Hotel, on the Slieepwnshroad, where it awaits an inquest. Meanwhile the crowd dispersed ; many of them being bookmakers, residents of Back Creek, remained in that locality ; but the principals in the affair made their way to the city at once. Information was given to the police, and at a late hour last night Robinson bad not been arrested, although every effort was being made to secure him. While upon tlie subject of tin’s disgraceful outrage, it may be added that on Friday night last a drunken row took place in a notorious brothel in Bernalstreot. and property was damaged to the amount of £25. Two of the ringleaders in the affair were captured by Constable Rogers. William Stokes, alias Lear, a most determined ruffian, the ringleader of the mob, forcibly resisted Constable Rogers in the execution of his duty last night, in a house behind Sawcr’s brewery, and lie had to he handcuffed. Mounted Constable Bush had to be calk'd to the assistance of Rogers in securing Stokes. The other person was Dan. Brown, who was arrested by Constable Rogers on Saturday night. It turned out after Stokes’ arrest that he bad been one of the backers in the light earlier in the evening, and when arrested at the house behind the brewery tlie brother of the larrikin, who was to some extent instrumental in the death ol Taylor, was found there too, and by his aid it was expected that Robinson would be speedily lodged in the lock-up. Sergeant Boylan arrested John Zeigler, Jacob Ncglc,. and John Macdonald, on a charge of being concerned in the brothel row. After the above was in type we learned that George Robinson was arrested at 12 o’clock last night, as also were the following, who were charged with being accessories before the fact of the murder: —Joshua Robinson, bootmaker, aged 22 years ; W in. Ilaydon, brickmaker, aged 22 years ; Win. Thompson, carter, aged 24 years Benjamin Stevens, labourer, aged 25 years. Joshua acted as bis brothers second, Steven as picker-up, Ilaydon second for the deceased, and Thompson acted as time-keeper. The deceased was about 24 years of age. Detectives Alexander and Brown, and Constables Dunlop and J. and B. Bradley arrested the prisoners iu different parts of the city. The inquest upon the fatal fight at Back Creek was commenced on Tuesday. Dr 11. L. Atkinson gave evidence that the deceased was to all appearances a perfectly healthy man. On his body lie found a considerable number of abrasions, denoting a considerable amount of violence. He minutely described the different bruises and injuries on the body, and explained that death was caused by extravasation of blood on the brain. The injuries were not likely to have been caused by repeated falls on the ground. Dr. Cruikshank agreed with the evidence of Dr Atkinson. It was agreed that the inquest should be resumed on Tuesday. Bail was accepted for Ilaydon and Stevens, Robinson remaining in custody.