New-York tribune., 1920-03-12
Student Dies i'm
Boxing Bout;
Chum rs Held
Milton Sternfeld Sue
cumbs Following Blow
to Jaw While Entertain
ing Columbia Engineers

Milton Sternfeld, who was graduated
from Columbia University last month
and was taking a postgraduate course
in the law school, died last night at
st. Luke's Hospital, apparently from a
blow he had received short time be-
fore in friendly boxing bout at the
university. Andrew Lockett. who is
in his second year in the architectural
school of the university and was Stern
fields opponent, was locked up at the
West 125th Street police station on a
formal charge Of homicide.
The young men were fast friends
Last night after finishing their studies
they met and went to the gymnasium
in Earl Hall, where they got into their
trunks and jerseys and put on the
gloves. Allan Leeberger, brother
of Lockett's roommate, was with them
and several students were watching,
for though neither of the pair was an
expert boxer they were tall, rangy fell
lows and we'll matched.
Asked to Entertain "Smoker''
In another part of Earl Hall under
graduate engineers were having q
Smoker" for which they had engaged
fencers and other entertainers. Some
of the entertainers failed to show up,
and one of the engineers, entering the
gymnasium, saw the two six-footers
sparring. He asked them if they
wouldn't come to the Smoker" and ego
tertainment wasn't coming off accord
ing to program.
Sternfeld and Lockett agreed smiling
ly. although protesting that they were
new at the game and might provide
more amusement than entertainment.
Overruling their protests, the engineer
student bundled them off, Allan Leebers
ger accompanying them.
Chairs and tables were showed back
in the room where the Smoker" was
being held, but there was no other pre-
tense at making ring. The tw, men
squared off, feinted once or twice a.l
emily with little steam behind it, and
caught Sternfeld on the jaw. Although
a heavier man than Lockett, Stern
field dropped at the blow.
Thought He Was Joking
His body twitched one or twice and
then he lay still. Lockett stood back
amazed, but decided quickly that the
spectators who thought Sternfeld jok-
ing and were counting him out in
burlesque accents must be right
There was smile on his face until he
caught a glimpse Of Sternfelds dis
tortcd features. Then in jiffy
Lockett was at his side, calling for
water.
Artificial Respiration Fails
Neither water nor artificial respiration
served to revive Sternfeld. For twenty
five minutes the students worked over
him without bringing him back to con-
sciousness. Then an ambulance was
summoned from st. Luke's Hospital and
he was taken there A few minutes later
he died.
The police were notified and Lockett,
dazed and overcome by grief, was taken
to the station house. He said that he
and Sternfeld were the best of friends
and that the accident was utterly mex
on thirty seconds, he said when Stern
field dropped. He had noticed that de-
spite the brief period they had been at
it, his opponent was breathing heavily
and with apparent difficulty.
he said. 1T couldn't have killed him"
No Ill-Feeling Between Men
Many representatives of the uni
versity called at the police station to
condole with Lockett and to assure the
police that there never had been the
slightest ill-feeling between him and
Sternfeld.
Sternfeld was twenty-three years
old and lived at "a Hawke Street, AL
bany. During the war he held the
rank of lieutenant in the field artil-
terry and was an instructor at Camp
Zachary Taylor in Kentucky. He
roomed in Livingston Hall, in West
10th Street. He had a position in a
law Office downtown.
Lockett is twenty-three years old and
came from Georgia. He lives at 502
West 11dth Street