The New York herald., 1922-06-27
Continued from First Page.

LSOndru nau 10 90 10 become WcNeI-
weight champion was to go to his corner
and wait until the referee had finished
the count
rritton knew that the claim was to be
disallowed. The well simulated look OF
pain disappeared from his face. He
worked himself up to one knee. While
he was in that position Leonard rushed
over and struck the blow that lost him
tho bout on FOUL Most Of the spec
tators thought that the foul was allowed
on the first punch and there were
symptoms of an impending riot.
Joe Humphreys waved his hands and
finally got something like order In the
place. At the top of his voice he ex-
planned why the foul had been allowed.
This quie.ed the crowd considerably, but
they fingered, about the ring for half
an hour after the bout. 1t would have
taken very little to have started quite a
disturbance.
The police closed quietly about the
ring and made way for the fighters.
When it was over Patsy Haley came to
the edge Of the rihs. and gave his ver-
sion as follows:
Crowd BewiIdered.
"The first blow was not foul. It
landed low but absolutely fair shook
started to count. Just as the count came
to two Leonard rushed in and struck
Britton as he knelt on one knee. Plainly
this was a foul punch and had to give
the decision right then and there to
Britton.
What the motives Of the two actors
in this rather crudely staged melo-
drama might be ought to develop an
investigation. 1t is hard to tell what
could have been in the minds of the
two experienced young business men
who put on the act.
There were nearly twenty-four thou
sand In the wooden bowl when the
bout started and most Of the spectators
left the place considerably bewildered.
The unanimous verdict seems to be
that there was something occult about
the finish, but what the play was de-
pended on how the money Of the spec
tators was bet.
The motives Of the Gans-Brftt fake
were clear as crystal. Britt never had
a chance with Cans in real fight con-
sequently the ring belacos of San Fran
cisco cooked up their melodrama. In that
fight Cans slipped to one knee. APP
parently in great distress. While he
VISA in that position Britt rushed over
and struck him. Referee Eddie Graney
Immediately declared Britt loser on q
foul. Afterward Britt and Cans met in
a fair fight and Britt quit. claiming a
broken ulna.
The inside details of the Cans Britt
fight did not come out until years later,
when the actors and the stage managers
told it as good joke. Perhaps the
details of how this one was arranged
will come out sooner They should.
Britton said after the bout: Tho
hot M
hit me fair enough and knocked the
wind out of me. II Haley thought that
1 was claiming a foul he was mistaken.
But the second blow absolutely was foul.
1t hit me when I had one knee on the
floor.
II am sorry It finished that way. 1
had no intention Of claiming foul. /
thought that ! was winning easily on
points when that right landed to the
wind. It certainly TOOK my breath away.
That is why put my hands to my
stomach"
The Leonard people declare that Brit
ton was of his knees when the punch
landed. They seemed angry but no!
particularly depressed over the thing.
The customers for the most part are
quite confident that something was put
over on them and are more or less
curious to know just what 1t was. You
cannot read what It was In the inscrut-
able poker face of Benny Leonard nor
in the pale mask that Britton wears
for face.
Before o'clock there were over 49,
900 in the wooden bowl while a quad
ruple line of late corners was formed for
four blocks around the place. Automo-
biles were parked on both sides OF the
Harlem River. while the subway exits
spewed out fight fans with every train
load
The bouts were the first held In the
arena and Tex Rickard was beaming
over the prospect Of a bout week
through the long summer IL the cauli-
flower ear contingent only holds out
and the grasping. disposition Of the man.
ayers will only change. The same faces
that trimmed the ring at Madison Square
Garden were present. with plenty OF
new faces, most OF these being we'll pow
dered and rouged. 1t is evident that
the fans of the so called gentler sex
prefer the open air bouts
Jack Dempsey at RfnEside.
Jack Dempsey, the heavyweight cham
pion Of the world. was one of the early
arrivals. He and Jack Kearns and
encourage mingled with the customers
after Dempsey had been spotted and
cheered Justify. .
one member of the Leonard family
appeared In the opening bout Joe Leon
ard, the youngest brother In this family
of alert young business men, made his
debut with Sammy Marco. The plan Of
the Leonard family Is to have Joe
assume the lightweight title after Benny
gets ready 20 retire. BoRny had better
figure on staying a wh0a. for. though
Joe was awarded the decision by
courtesy, he did not show anything
much.
The second bout got a bit messy
toward the end. Johnny COMFY and
Jack stark were the performers. yphnny
had his nose spread over his face in a
haphazard sort Of way In the middle OF
the bout and what pulchritude he had
was more or less impaired. The injured
beak annoyed John considerably and he
started to rush things in the last round
The Judges decided that II was a draw.
Joe Humphries, the announcer, was In
excellent voice, though he had consider.
able competition from the tugboa'
whistles on the nearby Harlem River
Take IL from Joe, the cool night ali
loosens the vocal chords. and the boy
orator from Tammany Hall was at his
best
1t was gathered that Leonard was
something of favorite. The betting
favored him to win by 2 to 1. The bet
ting on a draw decision was even money
Leo p. Flynn arrived shortly after
towing Bill Brennan. Dempsey's favorite
dancing partner. Brennan parked his
feet close to Jack Dempsey. The Gus.