The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-06-16
+Fitzsinmons Was
Not Knocked Out,
He g Slipped"
NOTHING BRUTAL ABOUT IT.
Heard There Was Betting,
But Couldn't Swear
To 1t.

New York, June 15.-Three mild SEN
sations were developed at the sittings
of the Mazet Investigating committee
today, and after the last, a squabole
with the minority members over the
matter of adjournment, had been
smoothed over, the sessions were ad-
1ourned until Aug. list.
The first important witness was Chief
of Police Devery, who was called by
Mr.. Moss to explain why he first
threatened to stop the Fitzsimmons- |
Jeffries prize fight and then went to
the ring-side and allowed it to go on
to a knockout finish. Chief Devery ad-
mitted that he took an interest in prize
fights and upheld prize fighting under
the Horton law, arguing that the young
men of the city should be taught the
art of manly self-defense, 80 that they
might defend themselves from thieves
and thugs on the public streets"
Mr.. Moss Immediately tried to force
the admission that young men were
likely to be knocked down and robbed
at night. The witness retorted that
the police force was more efficient to-
day than when under Mr.. Moss. DeV-
ery said the recent fight complied with
the law, and was in all respects a
clean-cut contest.
He said he did not see the knockout
blow. but thought that Fitzsimmons
had simply slipped Mr.. Moss then
questioned Devery as to whether he
had made any attempt to close pool
rooms since he was last on the island.
Devery said he had not. A Wrangle
eEsued between the two, and unpleas-
ant personalities were passing between
Them, when Mr.. Mazet ordered Dew
cry to leave the room. AS he MADE
no move Mr.. Mazet called the ser
geant-at-arms. DeVery then stepped
from the stand and went away
In the afternoon session testimony
was given to the effect that policemen
were guilty Of blackmailing disorderly
women and was testified to by a sixteen
year old girl who once attempted to XIII
herself in q Bowery music hall. She
said the policemen had regular sche-
dule of prices for protection to the wo-
men of the lower east side, winch the
women had to pay under pain OF arrest.
Other witnesses testified to the unsatls-
factory conditions of things on the east
side When Chairman Mazet an
nounced that an adjournment would be
taken until Aug. l, Mr.. Hoffman, one
of the minority members, protested,
saying that the adjournment could not
be taken without an executive session
to decide the matter In statement
which he gave out at the executive
session, Mr.. Hoffman, for the minority
party. referred to the investigation az
"a one-sided inquiry for political pur-
poses and in the interest of the repuo-
lican machine"
He declared that the republican mem.
bers by a strict party vote, had refused
TO summon as witnesses several we'll
known republicans. He said that not
dollar of the S170 000,0 900 of public eX
penditure had been proven by the lnves
tigation to be Incorporated. IL
statement, however, had little elLec
and adjournment was taken until Au
gust l.
Devery said that under the Horton
law the contestants were permitted i
continue for any number OF round
with four-ounce gloves, so far as ther
was no brutality. Mr.. Moss asked l
the law did not require tlVe-ounc
gloves. The chief said so far as h
knew he was positive that the mini
mum of weight according to law wa
four ounces.
"What do you call brutality?" aske
Mr.. Moss.
in clinches or where men do not com
plv with the referees request or IN an
way where it terminates in sluggln
of any description -,...,.,
what do you mean by slugglns
punching, hard punches?'
punching in clinches or punching
breakaways," -
How many Of these events have 70
attended since you have been chlet
Perhaps half dozen.
"Haye YOU interfered in any one
them?" -,.
to-" --,--,.
price was charged for the recent ana
between Jeffries and Fitzsimmons
Brooklyn"
There may have been; I don't kno
anything about it.
Ibid YOU know that very much De
ting was going on N connection i NJ W.
the recent fight of Jeffries and FIT
simmons?"
Il did not know of any. -
M The witness said that he had hea
"A no complaints that Fitzsimmons al
Jeffries had violated the law. -,,.-,.
Did you understand that Fltzsl
mons and Jeffries were members OIL |
Coney Island Club just giving an eAi
bition?" asked Mr.. Moss
THAT might have been. All XII
is that those persons were WORKING
der the law" ..-.,,o
i dld not. ,.-.,,
what is the difference between
boxing contest and fight.
There is no brutality in either Q
There are different rules, Marc us
Oueensbery and London rules.
\ would you stop contest un
MARQUIS of Queensbery rules!
II would not"
Under London rules!
81 would" ,..-
Chief Devery explained the differe
I between the two sets of rules, ana
clared that the meeting of F1tzs,lllIfi
and Jeffries was "clean-cut q
contest" a,- ha
arVere any blows struck ne
enough to stagger the men?"
sTbev Jared a little Neither
the men complained that he was str
heavily" -. How 90
.aThat 1 can't say. me man IL
down. 1 can't say if he was kio'
cut" .,-.a ,,nconsc
.sYou saw him knocked uiic'ii'0
and cs FRIED from the ring2 :,
II aid not. 1 saw him put III d u