Evening star., 1899-06-15
McOlusksy and Devery Before the
Mazet Committee.
BOXING CONTESTS AND PRIZE FIGHTS
Difference Between Them Pointed
Out by Devery.
IGN nee OF FACTS

NEW YORK, June 15.-George w. Nc
| Cluskey, chief of the detective bureau of
the police department. was the first witness
| before the Mazet Investigating committee
today. He said he had no money In his
possession that had been set aside for the
prosecution of keepers of bucket shops.
When he first took command of the de-
| tective Office there was a fund of 1925 for
| the investigation of bucket shops. and 1t
was spent in procuring evidence.
Mr.. McCluskey said he did not know the
stock exchange had furnished this money
for the prosecution of the bucket shops.
Chief of Police VIM. s. Devery was the
next witness. He said he had taken an in
| terest in the performances given by ath-
Ietic clubs. He had attended number of
boxing exhibitions himself to see that the
law was not violated. Devery said that
| under the Horton law the contestants were
permitted to continue for any number of
rounds. with four-ounce gloves, so long as
there was no brutality
His Idea of Brutality.
What do you call brutality?" asked Mr..
Moss.
well, where there is any punches in
clinches or where men do not comply with
the referees request, or in any way where
it terminates in slugging of any descrip-
tion.''
What do you mean by slugging-punch-
ing-hard punches?'
Punching in clinches or punching in
break-aways."
How many of these events have you at
tended since you have been chief?"
Perhaps half Dozen
Have you interfered in any one of
them:"
Il don't know as had any occasion to-"
DO you know that an admission price
was charged for the recent affair between
Jeffries and Fitzsimmons in Brooklyn
There may have been; don't know any
thing about IT.
Don't you know that tickets were SELL
ing all the way from So to SO for seat
there?"
Il don't know of any monetary considera-
ton whatsoever; didn't see any money
pass didn't know of any tickets being sold,
don't know anybody bought them.
Devery Didn't Know.
DO you know whether there was prize
or whether there was money at stake be-
tween the fghters?'
''Rumor had it that there was. l don't
know anything about it"
Did you know that very much betting
was going on in connection with the recent
fight between Jeffries and Fftzsimmons."
Il didn't know of any,"
rs Police Commissioner Sexton interest
ed in any of the athletic clubs?' asked Mr..
Moss.
Not that know Of
The witness said he had heard no COM
plants that FitZSimmonS and JenrieS had
violated the law.
Did you understand Fitzsimmons and
Jeffries were members Of the Coney Island
Club just giving an exhibition" asked Mr.
Moss
That might have been All L know is
that those persons were working under the
law
did you make an Investigation
Il did not"
Tweedledum and Tweedledee.
What is the difference between box
ing contest and a fght?'
There is no brutality in the one There
are different rules, Marquis of Queensbury
and London rules
Would you stop contest under Marquis
of Queensbury rules?'
Il would not.
'Cnder London rules
Il would"
Chief Devery explained the difference be-
tween the two sets of rules and declared
that the meeting of Fitzsimmons and JEFF
fries ''clean-cut glove contest
Mr.. Moss read the Horton law relating to
boxing contests, and long decision of the
supreme court, to show that athletic clubs
can only have sparring exhibitions for its
own members, and may not charge an ad-
mission to the general public.
In view of this provision he asked, do
you take any measure to find out if an ad
mission was charged?'
NO, if any tickets were sold they must
have been sold by the members
Public and Press Wanted 1t.
Replying to a question the chief said he
did not think he saw the fight at the Lenox
Athletic Club between Dave Sullivan and
Oscar Gardner, the Omaha Kid" on jan
uary 10 last At that fight Sullivan was
knocked out. To Mr.. Mazet the chief ex-
planned that it did not necessarily take d
heavy blow to knock a man out. Re-
ferring again to the FitZsimmons-Jeffries
contest, the chief said: Il wanted to pre-
vent that; it was the first championship
contest held in this city, but the public
wanted it
You objected to it. Do you object to it
now?"
No. 1t was a fair contest, and the law
was not violated Personally am opposed
to such contests.
Did any one prevent you stopping it?'
No. No one spoke to me about it, The
public and the press seemed to want it, and
/ was present to see that the law was not
toll cd