The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-26
TOMPKINS AND EVANS
 BREAK EVEN IN GREAT BATTLE OF WILL POWER
Disagreement Over Techni- cality Causes CanceIing Of Bout, And Barring Of Will son and Proto From The B. A. C. Ring

A bIOIy was once tOlu OI U peISiSl- ing bridegroom who was thrice left standing at the church door, vainly awaiting the arrival of his tardy bride for the marriage ceremony. The fourth time the incident oc- cured. even that patient and long fully, and swore that never again would he seek wedlock with his absent-minded sweetie.
 John Public of Birmingham Is the bridegroom this morning. and he is swearing oaths of vehemence after another standing up by his long courted fiancee-that Claude Wilson far as John Public Is concerned, that engagement Is off. broken. and thrown into the discard-even as one losses away his ten-year-old flivver that has bumped around on one cylinder and four flat tires just once too often.
 Jimmy Proto and Claude Wilson failed to fill their boxing engage ment at the B. A. c. Monday night. Even after they went to the trou- ble of dressing for the affair-or un- dressing, according to ones way of looking at the matter-they failed to stage their long deferred scrap. and left the ring after an hour of argu- ment and not one second of satisfac- tion, with tho boos and misses of the patrons forming a 1urid smoke screen that covered their retreat, and triumphant cries of. "I told you sol" ringing in their ears like hornets into their nest.
 Both Boys Barred.
 After Dave Evans had gathered to- gether little Jimmy Proto. his bath robe. small sack of resin and a large one of alibis, an orange that had been cut into squares for the occasion. and great big juicy lemon-figuratively speaking, of course-and abandoned the scene of the Birmingham Athletic club and as fine a sportsman as Birmingham can boast. entered the ring with the following terse announcement:
 "Neithcr Claude Wilson nor
 Jimmy Proto will fight in this
 ring tonight Neither Claude
 Wilson nor Jimmy ProtO will
 again fight in this ring. All
 money paid for tickets for to-
 nnght's bout will be refunded
 at the Obx officc."
 The crowd stirred and boiled around as testify as Volcano in ac- tion. and the atmosphere was made lurid and sulphurous with fumes of sarcasm, disgust and ironical humor that spewed forth from the over heated kettle. John Public. the bridegroom, was angry at last, and needed but little incentive to tear to kindling wood the chapel that had so often seen his modification and discontinue, as his bride, the Proto- Wilson bout, failed to fulfill its engagement.
 The reason for all the above was obvious. It was misunderstanding between Tommy Tompkins, Wilson's manager, and Dave Evans. Proto's pilot, and neither would concede 2 point.
 Tommy Tompkins announced to Referee Mike Thomas Just before the bout was scheduled to begin that he would not allow any coaching from Proto's corner during progress of the bout. Coaching from principals s corner really is an absolute violation of Marquis of Queensbury rules.
 Dave Evans came back at Tomp- kins with the statement that he would not allow Proto to fight unless he (Evans) was allowed to coach his boy from his corner during the prog ress of the bout.
 IrOn-Cement.
 Tommy was adamant, and his will power was admirable for it's shock withstanding power. Not one point would Tompkins concede, and Dave Evans was himself too set in his ways to give in on any point of the argument. Politeness prevents one from naming those sterling qualities, what school teacher sometimes ac- cuses the small boy of being. the lad who has shown an unusual amount of stubbornness.
 Octavius Roy Cohen pleaded with the two, Referee Thomas tried to arbi- trate. The crowd shrieked advice, re- quests and threats. All this failed, and finally President Cobbs ordered Secretary Roberts to take out his watch and set a time limit. In spite of promises, threats and requests, neither Evans nor Tompkins would give in, and Dave left the ring with Proto before the time limit was up. That's all there was to. it-Wilson and Proto will bear out the inforn1a- 'tion that there was no more.
 The bout fell through, but with the dull thud of the drop of the affair could be heard the echo of the fall of tho standing of Jimmy Proto and Claude Wilson in Birming- ham. Neither will ever fight at the B. A. c. again. President Herbert Cobbs has ruled, and his announce ment drew forth the only round of genuine applause that greeted the whole sorry affair Monday night.