FATAL PRIZE FIGHT IN SYDNEY.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4775, 29 April 1884, Page 2

FATAL PRIZE FIGHT IN SYDNEY.

A fatal occurrence (says the Sydney Morning Herald of the 18th inst.), the circumstances surrounding which lead to the belief that it was the result of premeditated action, took place at an early hour yesterday morning about 100 yards beyond the bridge on the Bunnerong-road, and near the back of the Band wick Racecourse. It would appear from information received by the police yesterday that during the past few days arrangements of which they were totally ignorant were made between two men named James Lawson and Aleck Agar or Williams, for a prize fight, the stakes being £25 a-side. Both men were more or less identified with the art of boxing ; ,and Lawson, who is a coloured man, and comparatively a recent arrival firm California, was well known amongst certain clssses, having figured somewhat conspicuously in connection with the Miller and Foley exhibitions. Agar was a Victorian, and was not to be compared with Lawson for size or strength. It is stated that he had lately come over from Melbourne for the purpose of attending the race meeting, and that the match was made on the racecourse by the men and their admirers. The proceedings were carried out in a systematic manner, seconds,, referee, and timekeeper having been appointed. According to arrangements the men and their seconds met at the back of the race course shortly after daylight yesterday morning, and were soon joined by a large number of others who were in the secret, and by the time the fight commenced, from 100 to 150 men had congregated on the spot. A ring was formed, and the men commenced the combat, cheered and urged on by the onlookers. Seven rounds were fought, when the.proceedings terminated fatally, by Agar receiving a blow over the left eye that caused his death. On receiving the blow he staggered and fell, never to rise again, and he was afterwards picked up, placed in a cab driven by a man named Sydney Dunham, and was hurried off to the hospital. On arriving at the hospital the man was examined and found to be dead, and it was then through the prompt action of Dr Bruce who telephoned to the Central Police Station that the police received information of the fight. This was about six o'clock in the morning. Two constables proceeded to the hospital and took charge of the body, which was afterwards removed to the South Sydney Morgue. The cabman was detained, and from information received Sub-Inspector Brenjner subsequently arrested Lawson in a hotel in Sussex street, and he was taken to the Central Police Station, and locked up on the charge of having caused the death of Agar. Two men, one named Peter Jackson, a countryman of Liwson's, and William Priddy, were subsequently arrested, and charged with being concerned with Lawson and others in causing the death of Agar. The facts in connection with the affair have been reported to the City Coroner, and an inquest was to have been held upon the body at the South Sydney Morgue on the 18th inst. -