South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-14
REFEREE CLAIMS
He NEVER HEARD
CHARGE Of FOUL
Says if He Had Known Adj Con-
tended He Was Hit Below
the Belt He Would Have
Called in a Doctor.


CHICAGO. March l4.-H.rry Stout,
referee OF the sensational boxing bout
involving Willie Eitchie and Ad VOL
CAST az Milwaukee Thursday night,
made an astounding statement in the
presence OF Tom Jones and the writer
at the PlankintOn hotel after the bat
tie. 1T certainly astOunded us and we
know it did Jones, for Tom invited the
official outside when he heard 1t.
Harry declined and Ads manager and
he apparently parted enemies.
The followers of the glove game
know by this time that Wolgast went
down in the seventh round of the
fight after Richie had dubbed him
twice IA the body with his right and
lodged claim of foul. When he sank
to the floor, Richie was between him
and Stout. Willie backed away and
Stout walked quickly 10 WOlgast's
side. Every ringsider was positive
that Stout knew that Wolgast claimed
a foul and that ne refused the plea
and ordered him 10 get up and fight,
which WOlgast did at any rate But
here is what Stout says.
Il did not know until after the
ng,lt that Wolgast claimed a foul /
thought ne went down from the two
stomach punches and 1 counted four
ON him before he got up. i was not
and i did not detect a low punch, if
there was one. for that reason. If L
had known that WOlgast was lodging
"a claim of foul ] would have stopped
the fight then and there and called in
a physician 10 examine him"
Jones looked at Harry in amaze
ment and then exploded. He declar
ed that not only DID Wolgast claim a
foul. but that he did also and shouted
fro IN
for the referee 10 hear him. Tom
wound up 10y allowing that Stout
never could Oihciate again i'm a ring
contest in which ne had anything TO
say.
StOut's statement certainly is a fun
ny one when il is considered that il
was palpable to all that were near the
arena that Wolgast was asking 10 be
declared the winner on account of be-
ing struck a foul blow.
The disqualification of Ritchie
would have made Wolgast the cham
piOn again b. popular opinion. In
that case he would be able TO dictate
TO Richie on the weight and have a
much better chance against him if
they collide again. However. it's a
strange thing that most of those who
saw the two Richie body blows go
home are willing 10 swear that each
OF them LANDED couple of inches
above the Wolgast belt line. It's a
fine little mix-up all around and
means that Ritchie viii have to give
AID another chance 10 settle that old
superiority question.
This question came up after the
fight. Would Wolgast be champion in
case RitchIe had been disqualified
There is doubt about this question
No decisions are permitted under the
Wisconsin state law. If Stout had
ruled that Ritchie foUled AID he could
not have lifted one of WOlgast's
gloves and declared him the winner
Hence the question about the switch
of the title. However, had WOlgast
knocked out Eitchie ne would have
been declared champion the country
over. even though Stout could not
have given him a decision even in
that case \ disqualification should
have the some effect as a knockout in
a uo-decision bout. 1t would have
started a merry argument. anyway.
The result did not damage the rep