The New York herald., 1922-05-28
NOVICE TOSSED into
Ring With VETERAN
Victim Never Before Had
Drawn a Pair Of Boxing
Gloves on His Hands.
TRAINED IN SECRECY
TRAINED IN SECRECY
Dropped After a Feint by Irish
Champion and Refused to
Get Up Again.
BY CHARLES f. MATHIsoN.

BY CHARLES #. MATHIsoN.
Although the Jim Tracy-BiIl Bren-
nan bout was a, saddening burlesuue.
yet 1t was. pugilistically, quite re-
spectable compared to the Mike Nor
rissey-Peter Maher swindle of 1899.
This celebrated fake was staged In
the Lenox A. c., 10th street and Lex
lngton avenue. one of two clubs per-
nitted to conduct boxing on Manhat-
tan Island during the autocratic en-
forcement of the Horton law. The
statute then in force did not provide
TOR commission and the sport was
ruled by one man with Czar-like
powers.
During the brief life OF the Horton
law more ring swindles' We're planned
and executed than at any other time
In the ancient or modern history of
pugilism. In the matter of brazen dis
regard of the public. the Mike Nor
rissey fake excelled all others, past or
present.
Jim Tracy had some ring experience
before coming to America, but in the
tdse Ol lflb lcliOW WHO WIS cdileu Mike
Morrissey, in order to give the match
Celtic flavor. he proved to be novice
pure and simple. He never had put
boxing gloves on his hands up to the
time he was taken to the Lenox A. c.,
where he trained" in the strictest
secrecy. No one except those who en-
gineered the fake We're permitted, to
enter the training quarters. Glowing re-
ports were sent out as to Morrissey' $
prowess. and 1t was intimated that
Aaher. one of the hardest hitters in
the ring, was about to meet with dis
aster.
Morrissey Was Frightened.
When Morrissey entered the ring on
the night set for the battle" he proved
to be an understood thin legged. flabby
muscled chap, who was pale and trem-
bling with fright. He did not want to
leave his corner at the bell for the first
round and acted as though he would
prefer to jump the ropes and make his
escape.
Finally he was pushed to the center
of the ring and did not even know how
to put up his hands.
Maher feinted at Morrissey and the
latter promptly fell. on the floor. Not
till Maher stepped away did Morrssey
again pushed toward the center and
Maher swung, but missed. Morrissey
flopped to the floor and the referee
began to count, interpolating such re-
marks as Get up you hound" and
'"Three more seconds and you're out" :"
You can count a hundred and I'll
not get up," walled Morrissey. There
fore he was counted out and MaIher
proclaimed victor.
In the course of time the truth about
Morrissey came out 1t was learned
that he was a waterfront truckman and
mad been lured into the match on
promise of a rich purse. He was so
innocent of knowledge Of boxing that
n well known featherweight who had
been engaged to show him the rudi-
ments of the game, quit in disgust. Nor
risscy disappeared Immediately after
the affair and all attempts to locate
him failed.
Fortunately for boxing under the
Walker law. swindle of the Morrissey
tvpe would not be likely to succeed.
Thanks to the Boxing Commission ana
its lynx eyed deputies.
sports Alliance Platform.
eenator James j. Walker father OF
fhe Walker law and honorary president
oe the National Sports Alliance. has is
sued n statement in which he sets forth
the aims and objects of the new organi-
zatlon. The gist of his utterances are
contained In the following paragraph:
.'rrhe interests of the boxers are
coupled with those of the public in the
purposes of this organization. It's In
fluence will become national and every
promoter, manager and boxer must, per-
force. become q member. And no pro-
transgresses the standards set by the
alliance will have a second opportunity
10 traduce his profession. for no mem
her of the alliance will be permitted to
engage with the offender. The alliance
thus becomes the public police, and by
commanding a clean house within It's
own lines insures fair dealing to the
public"
senator Walker, by word and action.
has furnished proof that he is strong
advocate of clean boxing. 1t Is for
tunate thing for the alliance that 1t has
40 able a man as Walker TO lay It's
case before the public. and it can
achieve success by following the pre-
cepts advanced by the Senator.
The only question is whether the
,nembers of the alliance will follow the
wise counsel of their honorary presi-
dent. If they are determined to do so
then they should at once take UP the
question OF the Pepper Martin and Babe
Herman bout and thoroughly investi-
gate all the circumstances. Ugly re-
ports regarding that contest we're cir
cuIated both before and after the con-
fest. but no one with authority seems
40 have considered the matter worth an
inquiry. The National Sports Alliance
"a In a position to probe the matter to
the bottom, and if II does so the effect
will be beneficial to the organization.
Francois Descamps, the volatile man
o.Ser of Carpenter. declines to consider
n Moran-Carpentier match on the
ground that Moran is third rater.
Having fought second rate selter.
Carnentier would not create surprise II
he took on Blink McCloskey. 1t would
he less dangerous than match with
Moran. for the latter, although slow
and decadent, still has dangerous
However. II Carpenter does not care
FOR a battle with Moran perhaps he will
accent q match With little 162 pound
larry Creb. The FrsssSfiman surely
wo,... .-.ot be afr-N # small sizee
eaap like Greb.