Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-05-18
POLICE PREVENT
BOXING BOUTS
At AUDITORIUM
Solar PIexus Blow to Profess
sionaI PugiIism Last Night
When Police Take a Hand.
BALkS AT RESPONSIBILITY
Wants Written Statement from
Prosecutor That Boxing
Will be Permitted Here.
STREET FIGHTS FOLLOW
Burke Declares That Same
State Law is in Effect To-
day as in 1918.
STREET FIGHTS FOLLOW

Chief of Police Patrick j. Burke
delivered solar plexus blow to pro-
fessional pugilsm last night when he
prevented the staging of boxing
match at the Auditorium.
Though tip had gone the rounds
/ that boxing would be resumed again
at the old stand, the superintendent
of police foiled the plan by having a
patrolman present at the event with
orders to prevent the staging of any
bouts. When the management learn
ed that any boxing match would be
stopped it concluded the evenings
sport after a wrestling match be-
tween Jack" Nifio, who represent
ed America at the international meet
in Greece in 1906, and Charlie"
Erickson, lightweight Swedish cham
pion. The devotees of the squared
ring and the mat were then inform
ed that the evenings sport would be
deferred until later date, and as
the 800 or more patrons filed from
the amusement house each was re-
turned the price of admission.
The announcement proved disap-
pointment to the crowd Out on the
street number of arguments arose,
" which resulted in fistieuffs, and called
fer the Intervention of the police.
No arrests We're made
Chief Burke stated this morning
that personally he would enjoy see
ing clean, boxing match as much as
any one in the county, but that the
law specifically forbids professional
bouts, and that he was compelled to
uphold the state statute He declar-
ed that the law is the same today,
as it was more than two years ago
when the county authorities threat
ened to raid the boxing center in
New Brunswick avenue, if the fights
there continued to be staged.
The chief said that the owner of
the Auditorium had come to him to
have sanctioned the resumption of
boxing, stating that the county prose-
cutor did not care and would offer
nothing to thwart same He said
that Mayor Garretson had been inter-
ceded with, and that it seemed that
every person in authority had placed
the matter up to the chief of police.
''If l permitted the boxing Matches"
said Mr. Burke, "all responsibility
for same would be upon my sheul-
ders, and if any one were blamed it
would be the chief of police Sup
pose a fighter was knocked out or
killed, who would be blamed?" The
chief declared that he had no power
to give permission to anybody to
violate fixed statute.
However, he considered If the
prosecutors office would give permits
sion for the resumption of the sport
that the police would be relieved of
responsibility, and intimated that he
would not interfere in such instance.
However. until he sees some permit
written in unmistakable black and
white he will not take for granted
that boxing matches are approved by
the county authorities.
The superintendent of police stated
that he had been informed that there
was boxing at different clubs in the
city. The official declared this was
o. X, If no admission were charged,
as such could not be construed as
professional boxing or prizefghting.
An hour OF so before the opening
of the Auditorium Chief of Police
Burke had given his ultimatum to
the owner of the sporting emporium.
To insure that there would be no
violation of the law the chief de-
tailed Patrolman Durham to the
Auditorium.
The amusement place began to fill
rapidly and early. When Match
maker Joe" McNulty introduced the
principals in the first attraction the
room reverberated with cheers and
the fight fans settled into their seats
to enjoy the preliminary.
Jack Nifot appeared and was
greeted with a storm of applause.
The champion wrestler showed
plainly his appreciation as he
stretched himself to his full length
and contracted his muscles into huge
knots. His opponent. Charlie
Erickson was equally welcomed.
Nihot appeared to have the better of
his adversary from the start. Final |
Iy he downed Erickson.
An intermission followed, but the |
,redulous patrons did not mind, for |
he wait was worth what was to fol- /
ow. However, O pail fell on the /
gay throng when the evenings sport |
was brought to a sudden conclusion |
)y the announcement that the re- |
events would be postponed |
until a later date and that each per-
ION would be returned his admission |
ZEE. Another wrestling match be-
.ween Aliz Hagis and Nick Pepi, a I
contest between Greek and Italian,
vas to have followed, but when the
learned definitely that |
hey could not follow this with
boxing bout the events were termf- ;
aated after the hrst wrestling match