New-York tribune., 1912-01-23
DRUG HAMPERED ATTElL
Too Much Cocaine Cause OF His
Poor Showing, He TestItIeS.
BOXING INVESTIGATION ON
Featherweight Champion Tells
About His Bout with
Knockout" Brown,

Abe Attell, fcathcrWelSnt poNlHS C"a'i-
pion Of the world testified before the State
Athletic Commission yesterday that in MS
opinion. an overdose of cocaine, injected
into his hands was responsible for his poor
showing against Knockout Brown at the
National Sporting Club of America last
Thursday evening. Attell had made ar
ransements to leave this city for California
Yesterday. Where he will meet Johnny Kill
hane on February 90. Under the clrcunl-
stances. he was allowed TO testify yester-
dav morning in the investigation instituted
nv the boxing commission. Scores OF lel-
tcrs from indignant patrons OF the spor"
most of whom paid s. apiece tor seats
hack I'D the action of the commission on
the charge that Attelrs part in the compst
was not up to his standard,
Tom O'Rourkc. manager OF the clup' the
clubs physician and others will be caheo
tomorrow when the hearing VIII DC re-
sumed. Commissioner Frank Omen came
down from Buftalo yesterday especlaiiy 10
toin the other member of the commission
Major Dixon i'm the Investigation
In reply to questions by Major Dixon
Atten, who was sworn as n witness tesu-
fed that he had no arrangement OIL a"S
nature with Brown before the bout except
as 10 matters relating to the contest an"
that 10 his knowledge there was no private
arrangement OF understanding with any
one connected with the bout, or no" II
ghould result - 49,.
Navor Dixon then asked: Were there
nnv ARRANGEMENTS with any one Whereo!
Won could be supposed TO he holding lah-
ing or stalling in the contest In order tha'
brown could win the match?' Attel re-
piled: ,,..,0
ono sir. ~ there is found even any little
.biug that would indicate that ! did wrons
or was not absolutely honest in my part
IN the bout I ask that the commission nar
me out Of New York for HE
A6r,itting that his boxing was not up 10
his usual standard Attell said he was not
"ri2bt." and that his arms, legs and BODY
o,roared IN he tired lie said ne had been
fold several days previously that another
'boxer had improved his hands wonderfully
nv taking an injection Of cocaine so ne
consented to try II, but, contrary TO MS
usual custom. he was not attended by his
own phvsician when 1t was administered
3ust before the bout. He added:
- stranger came into the dressing room
and wanted 10 administer the cocaine. but
] told him the preliminary bout was on
and that IT would be better 10 wait until
3ust before ] went 10 the ring lie told
me l. would be better TO get the drug
working. I finally told him 10 go ahead
and he put half of a big injection into my
lef, hand the same I'm my right and then
gave me a second injection in my right
hand.
'T had taken the same drug in smaller
doses before but never I'm that quantity.
and when l got in the ring II seemed that
couldn't use my hands properly and
couldn't execute what l wanted 10 do.
Although my mind seemed clear at first.
later il became affected, too, and I turned
into the wrong street when l started for
home" he testified he could not remember
some things that had occurred. but could
remember others.
IF intended to fake ] could do II hun
drcd per cent better than the other night,
asserted Atten. protesting his innocence
and honesty. He said all that he had re-
ceivcd from his part in the bout was his
share of the receipts as agreed, 50 100, which
nc had deposited the next day in the branch
Of the Greenwich Bank, at Broadway and
46th street.
In reply 10 a question by Commissioner
O'Neil Attell said his throat became dry
after taking the drug and he drank water
oil through the bout, something he had
never done before In a contest. He ex-
pressed the opinion that as the cocaine was
given by the club physician he thought it
was all right to take whatever the doctor
Wrought was right
DO YOU want the public to believe that
you were doped?" questioned Commissioner
O'Neil
II don't know whether I was given more
than was necessary. but IL made me blank
>sn the mind and my seconds and trainers
spoke of It aftcrward. They said / refused
20 answer them when they talked to me all
4hrough the fight"
As evidence that he was not right Atteli
asserted that he could defeat Brown any
night, II a bout could be arranged and that
ne would not take a nickel for doing it, but
lRive II to charity.
When questioned about his bout with
lMatt Wells, the English lightweight, Attell
admitted that Wells had outpointed him
ssst fall because he was the better boxer.
After testifyng. Attell hurried away to
catch his train for the Coast.
1t seemed to be the general opinion of
those who heard the witness that he had
made a favorable impression, and that IL
hfs testimony is substantiated no action
lartit ba takap nv the commission