The sun., 1907-08-13
BILLY EDWARDS rs DEAD.
Once IAghtwelwht Champion and FOR Years
&C tho HeHman House.

at tho He1man House.
Billy Edwards, one Of the old school OF
ring fighters and from 1887 private dctective
at tho Hoffman HOUSE. died yesterday at tho
home Of his brother. Joseph Edwards, 90
First place, Brooklyn. william H. Edwards
AZ he was known In private hfe. was light
weight champion Of America and the world
in his time, and in two capacities. AZ pugilist
and sporting adviser TO Ed Stokes at the
Hoffman House, he was for thirty years
prominent In the eyes of the sporting public.
He was born In England. but became an
American citizen. He was 90 years old.
Ed Stokes brought Edwards to the HOT-
man House In 1882 at the opening of the
famous picture gallery barroom. and there
the former fighter was the entertainer Tor
all who needed chum, and when occasion
required a strict and unswerving upholder
of the peace. The man who became scrsppy,
even though he might have been buying
wine with Edwards. found himself on the
opening Of hostilities being elected through
the side door as though pile driver we're
behind him. A slim. quiet acting man OF
medium Insight. with blue eyes that flashed
when excited over his coal black mustache.
Edwards did not impress the casual caller
to the Hoffman House as professional
fighter. But when any one tried to walk
over him or stick canes into the pictures
Edwards revealed his ring training by the
energy with which he elected the dsturbers
In the crushes preceding and on election
night each year Edwards was a prominent
figure and the official stakeholder for hum
dreds Of wasers. On exciting Presidential
and municipal campaigns he has been the
custodian Of bets aggregating over $4,000,
and not q word Of blame has ever followed
his services as stakeholder. He was also
a stakeholder Of bets on the big prize
fights, yacht and boat races or whatever
event occupied the attention OF the public.
The money he held was forced on him as the
outcome OF wagers between patrons OF the
HOFFMAN House. for Edwards regarded
them az all in the days work and he never
charged a stat ed commission for serving
in this capacity.
Edwards occupied q unique position a.
floor manager OF the Hoffman House bar,
a position that in places OF less standlng
might be termed bouncer, Tor there was
never a fight of consequence in the place.
despite all the jarring elements to gather
there on exciting nights. during the time
he held the place. When the big football
games were held at Manhattan Field over
a decade ago the college boys and their
followers would often make the night 80
hilarious on Broadway that many of the
hotels closed up their barrooms In advance
10 avoid the tussling mob OF youngsters
and any anticipated damage to glassware.
The Hoffman House at no time felt com
pelled to take this precaution. and no matter
how fierce might be the rush Edwards was
always master Of the situation.
Edwards won the light weight champion
ship Of America and the world from sam
Collyer in 1868 in a bare fist fight. He
won a hard fight afterwsrd from Tim
Collins, the iron man, and had the better OF
several fights for the title with Arthur
Chambers. also an Englshmsn. After
this last mill Chambers retired and opened
a public house in Philadelphia the sign
bearing the motto This house keeps Ar
thur Chambers" Edwards was famous
for his boxing skill. and in recent years he
had as private pupils, among many: such
celebrities as George J. Gould E. Fl. Harri-
Whitney. He and Mike Donovan, the vet
eran instructor Of the New York A. c.,
were great rivals in boxing. For several
years Edwards had benefit in Madison
Square Garden. and he and Donovan used 70
have a very spirited bout as the windup.
gloves was against Charley Mitchell, In
1894, in Madison Square Garden. Mitchell
had the better OF IL until the police stopped
the fight. This was the last appearance
Of Edwards in the ring. He was one Of the
him for his winning battles with Paddy Ryan
and Joe Goss
Warrisk Edwards. as well as his brother
Joseph, survive the ex-champion fighter.
Billy also leaves a widow, formerly Miss
Georgia Yeager, whom he married year
ago last February. and an infant daughter.
Five sisters also survive him. A daughter
nv his first wife married Robert Turnhull.
an athlete and newspaper reporter. The
immediate cause Of his death was acute
Bright's disease. The funeral services
win he tomorrow evening at the home Of
JOSEPH Edwards. and the interment will be
in Greenwood on Thursday.