The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-16
DEYEREY CALLS THEM
SCIENTIFIC TAPS
Saw Nothing Unlawful in the
Recent Fight.
NO HARD BLOWS STRUCK
It Was Just Clean Scientific Contest.
According to the Chiefs Idea
No Reason to Prevent
Bouts in Future
NO HARD BLOWS STRUCK

New York, June 15-Ch1et or Ponce
Deverey was today catechized before the
Mazet committee as to what he knew
about boxing matches as they are con-
Quoted in New York. Deverey said he had
attended a number of performances, but
had seen no violation of the law.
He did not know, he said that money
was charged for admission to the Jeffries-
Fitzsimmons exhibition; he did not see any
money passed for the tickets of admission
(under the Horton law boxing exhibitions
may be given only before club members the
contestants being also members, and no Use
may be charged.) He explained the differ-
ence between Marquis of Queensbury ana
London prize ring rules. He would inter-
fore in a fight under the London prize ring
rules, but there was, he said, no brutallty
in bouts according to the Marquis OF queens
bury rules He had wanted to prevent the
Jeffries- Fitzsimmons bout but deferred to
the wishes of the people who took the OPP
posite view.
Ibid you see any heavy blows struck?'
was asked Chief Deverey.
''They Jared a little. 1t was a clean
scientific contest Neither of the men
complained that he was struck heavily
"Was there a Knockout blown
''That L cant say. The man went down.
I can't say If he was knocked out"
"You saw him knocked unconscious anu
carried from the ring?'
81 did not. I saw him put In a chair
recover Immediately and shake hands with
his antagonist"
Mr. Moss quoted at length from news
paper clippings regarding the fight, but the
chief stuck to his position that under the
ba no right TO interfere in
q glove contest like that of Jeffries and
Fitzsimmons.
Asked how Jeffries came to be the
champion if the contest was not fight for
the championship of the world, the chief
said:
'Tnder the law he is the Horton cham
pion.' "
The chief denied that he let the Fftz-
Jeffries contest go on because he was
warned if he stopped that fight he would
have to stop all others and might thereby
hurt the business of his friend, Senator
Sullivan.
WAS Fitz knocked down by Jeffries?"
"He fell. A little tap might have dropped
him while he was sde-stepping.
at looked as if he fell as the result of
a blow?"
He might have. My personal opinion
was that he did. My official opinion was
that the law was not violated
Mr.. Moss still reading referred to 1.-TWO
blows in the face that were like kick of
a mule"
did you see those two blows"
81 saw those two scientific taps"
Chief Deverey averred that he saw
nothing in the law to prevent such fights
in the future.
Chief Deverey and Counsel Moss then
got into a fierce wrangle regarding the
case and his connection with pool rooms,
and the chairman ordered the chief of po-
lice from the committee room, threaten
ing at the same time to have him elected
by the sergeant-at-arms.
Chief Deverey left
The remainder of the testimony during
the day was devoted to probing into the
dives on the Bastside and the pool rooms.
The committee then adjourned.
Committeeman Hoffman on behalf of the
minority submitted a statement in which
he declared that the committee had SO far
accomplished nothing, that many witnesses
essential to the inquiry, including Senator
Plat, his sons and Elihu Root and Benja-
min B. Odell had not been called and he
asked in behalf of the minority that the in
quiry be adjourned without date.