The New York herald., 1920-01-26
BOXERSHOTDOWN
IN HIS CABARET
Two Gunmen Probably Fatally
Wound Willie Lewis in East
Fourteenth Street.
WELL KNOWN MIDDLEWEIGHT
Attacked in Telephone Booth and
Cries for Fair Chance to De-
fend Himself.

willie" Lewis, well known to followers
of boxing, as one Of the gamest and best
fighters of recent years, was
shot and probably mortally wounded by a
gunman in a telephone booth in his caba-
ret in the basement Of No. Sc East Four
teenth street at nine o'clock last night.
So daring and deliberate was the shooting
that the fighter, who was known for his
squareness in the ring, had no chance to
protect himself The police have an ex-
cellcnt description OF the man, although
they say Lewis could not tell them who
did the shooting.
The cabaret is known as THE Chateau
Thierry'' and was opened by Lewis about
two months ago. The place was unique in
that all the employees shared in the oper-
ating expenses and in the profits.
The usual nightly crowd had just begun
wearing heavy overcoat and the other
short and without an overcoat. went down
the stairs leading from the street and
walked to the centre OF the dance floor.
The musicians were tuning up preparatory
tall man said
Where is Lewis?'
Hes in the telephone BOOTH" replied
one Of the employees.
The tall man whispered to his COM
panion. who rmained standing In the GEN.
tre of the floor. while the former stepped
quickly to the rear of the room near the
booths. He opened the door of one.
Hes in the next booth!" called the en-
ploye.
The tall man swung open the door and.
revealing a revolver for the first time,
fired. The first bullet struck Lewis in
the left side. He pitched headlong from
the booth.
Cries for Chance to Fight.
Amid the screams of the customers and
the sharp commands of the short man to
"stay where you are or I'll let co. Lewis
was heard to cry, Give me a chance to
fight! The tail man replied with a sec
ond and third shot. One struck him in the
leg and the third in the groin.
The gunman quietly walked to the door
and pointing his revolver at the crowd
told his companion to back out. The pair
paused at the foot of the stairs for a
moment and before escaping the tall man
shouted Stay where you arc or you'll
get what he got"
1t was a minute or more before any
one in the place recovered sufficiently to
run up the stairs and give the alarm. De-
tectives Crubbci and Charlie Kane, from
Police Headquarters, and police from the
Mercerystreet police station rushed to the
place.
Lewis was taken to st. Vincent's Hos
pttal where 1t was said his chances were
exceedingly slight. He was conscious
for considerable period and was able
to talk with the detectives.
Met Many Good PugiIists.
Lewis was born in New York In 1884 and
lives at No. 1856 West 10th street. He
began his ring career in 1900. and partici-
pated in moro than $50 fights, meeting
all corners when he reached the top of
his form. IIe knocked out Honey Mallody
in 1903 in Paris, and during 1908, 1909 and
1910. while fighting in France met and
defeated some of the best men in Europe.
In his twelve years of fighting, Lewis
met such men as Billy Papke. Sam Lang
ford. Mike Gibbons, Kid Grlffo, Sailor
Burke, Frank Klaus, Knockout Brown
and scores of other good boxers. His
last fight was with Georges Carpenter
in Paris on March %, 1912, when he lost
ir twenty rounds.