THE FATAL GLOVE-FIGHT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4432, 31 May 1893, Page 3

THE FATAL GLOVE-FIGHT.

. JudgeGphoo^emiM^'. : ' jilt' Jiisticb. opii6]ly:, ■lnliis/cliorgo ;to : th p ; G fa n d r y ;11(q 8 ut p rolnV Court, inafepccuiljteferenci). to.. :tjiV fatui'gl6v.e-figfit.at w.hibli.it'iso ■joui%.Fqrgie.'isuafaine'U';- tb'e.. i.njuriDs' .wliichaubaequeritly caused, his;Th;e Apcklahd" cqrreapppident' of;. ,tlid Post, says that •Mess: jpu;■ ahouVrbp; tbi-ro: is-, reasonable, 'ground■■for.llic be li ef tb ait tli c (I.<-a t K; 6 f J de cea h ed.": was inlho'lflght .there is; : of bourse, an.end of thei casc, : but if.you s!iouid;beJ.soJ;satisGed : you \y i 11 .h ay 6, .> /pr oba bl y ;li?'u fc! ;.l i t i ffi;-.' "cully J Bs': J tlVe'case; 1 The law is: perfectlyvplear.,'tlwt|,priise. ■ fights iiiid.fpublio.-:boiin'B-imatoliqsJpr the ,aakb! of gaiiijare riqt.lawfui spqrtß. : tbc.intention.pl patiioß.:is.^ objectof.each.ia to bis antagbniat.-and-s'-osch' is tberefdro.' indi2eront.'nsw.wbat^injury^he: : ini' flictß-Bhbrt:ordeatli';Vß6/ : th'at'-h'6stri»y. 6bt»io : tlie>ura foughtfor,f-::lf:.death werpintended lt'would bo riurdor.but if .itenßues'where the intention- is only toj.exhaust or disable, it is manslaughter in: a, friendly sparring maiob, not conducted'for gain, if the parties fight-on ..until Mho, sport., becomes, dangerous and death ensues it will ho Jnianslaughtcr,.;..There is.evidence, in .' the present case that. blows were inflicted by tho accused, Nicholson, on the deceased after he was so for exhausted as to bo'- unable to dekid himsolf, and consequently when there was danger to him from tho continuance of iho contest. Thereto if death ensued from . these blows it would bo manslaughter. Even if tho contest had not been for gain, prizefights, are not lawful sports, aro breaches of tho peace, and if death ensues this subjects all who are concerned in them to conviction for manslaughter, Every fight for pecuniary gain to the winner, that is, for a prizo to be received by him is a prizo-fight, whether fought with gloves, or with bare hands, or with weapons.' The intention in such contests is not (he mere display of skill, but that the fight should be continued until one party can fight no longer. If you should iind that there is evidence that the death of Forgie was caussd by injuriPß received at tho bauds of Nicholson in the course of this fight, yoor duty as to him will be clear, and you will havo to consider the evidence with .respect to each of (be other

parties who aro'charged as aiders and abettors. Tho precise part which they took is, however, immaterial. If they were present in any way assisting—even if encouraging tbo light by ihi-ir mere presence-it is sufficient in law to constitute them aiders and abettors. A fight (or money, to be continued until 0110 of tho combatants can or will fight no longer, is as much a prize-fight whon fought with gloves aj when fought with bare hands, and is consequently a breach of the peace, It is idle to call it a sport, or an exhibition of skill, when Ihe object of each of tlio parties is to disable the other, and if tho affair is curried on so far that the death of one of 1 lie parties ensues it is beyond nil doubt manslaughter, Thai there is much ignorance upon (his point is certain. We read continually of the coaphiinl that legislative interference is required with respect to glove-fights, whereas in my opinion the law, if property put in force, is quite sirong enough as it is to put down dieso. exhibiiions. Even .in tlio present case, it appears that several policemen wero present, yi't - wero under the impr'Ssion'- they ';,.-.■ could not ■ interfere until;,, ..could fight noSlongerf and that they have 'allowed-and. bi-cn present at other from' the newspaper'report'that in Omgo the police-alid interfeto in -a" prize-runt ■pCtliw'descriptioiv'anil'hud the parties .hpuijd over to keep'the peace..-. I. 1 .appears to mo that the only question .fo.'.yoiuaa to,tlie'accusal Nicholson.- is ;'evide"eo''..tlutt': : ,blows giyeli j;by ■ liim-.;iii. the cmrse.of the ,Jis|bt caused tb'e'de4li'iif Forgie? Ii -.is, ilic.ivas ; tof.ncli;of::il|«,oiJicr«cou6cd ■iitni.'ro.pyidenco ili'iit im :(\viis;present at;llio!iigiit.andiissis'ing.iii any.way ? J--':Tho.Bills--::Wero ; \ihriiwu : ,oui : ;by-ibe. OVnnd%ry;.;; ; ;; : : ; ,:;: ; :',' ../:;■ I'JV-c-y.