Evening star., 1924-10-31
FRIENDS DESERT
M'COY. AT TRIAL
Defense Fund in Los Angeles
Murder Case Falls; Ignored
by Sportdom.
BY Consolidated Press.

: Los ANGELES, Calf. October 81.
The sporting world like several
other divisions of humanity. has no
particular sympathy for the down
and-outer. When Norman Selby, bet
ter known to fame under the prize
ring nom de plume of kid Mccoy,
goes on trial here next December s
for the murder of Mrs. Teresa Mors
1T will be without the vaunted de-
fense fund which was to be raised
in. his behalf among the sporting
luminaries and former prize ring
friends the country over.
Shortly after McCoy's arrest it was
announced that a fund ranging be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 was being
collected in order that the best at
4torneys available might be employed
to defend him. No stone would be
left unturned to disprove the murder
charge against him. James J. Jeffries.
one time heavyweight king; Jack
Dempsey, the present world cham
pion, and host of other past and
present ring, luminaries were men
toned as intending liberal contribu-
tors to the defense fund.
The sporting world. however. it now
develops has turned thumbs down.
turned cold shoulder, or whatever
else it is that betokens lack of inter-
awaits him. When the case comes to
trial here two weeks before Christ
mas it will be as pennileSS defend
ant-so pennileSs, in fact, that the
state itself may be called upon to
bear the expense of dispositions from
several Eastern cities which are in
tegral parts of the defense.
Attorneys Changed Three Times.
A
der charge Mccoy has changed attor-
neyS three times. Lack of finances
with which to conduct defense which
might have any chance of being sue
ceSSful is given as the reason for the
changes. Reluctance of the constant
changing panorama of legal advisers
10 continue in the case might be said
TO augur the final outcome.
Back of the refusal of the sporting
fraternity throughout the country to
dig down in its pockets for the once
famous prizefighter is said to lie a
very strong moral It's tenor is in
keeping with the ancient Chinese
1proverb to the effect that a man with
devious ways will lack steadfast
friends. In the heydey of his pugilis-
tic glory, Mccoy was known essen
Hrially as tricky" fighter. His ring
shrewdnesS on numerous occasions was
tried upon those who were his friends
An alleged instance in this connection
is told here along with the name of
Douglas Fairbanks.
Shortly after the former pugilist's
advent into the movies, Fairbanks, in
spirit of friendliness, is said to
have employed him as sort of
physical adviser and sparring part
ner. Mccoy is said to have filled the
role quite satisfactorily for a few
days. Then, one day, with an in
terested gallery looking on, he could
not resist the temptation to show
up Fairbanks in d bout with gloves.
The battle that followed is a his
toric one in Hollywood annals. Fair
banks is credited with eventually
coming out on top, but not before his
face had been SO badly cut that he
had to abstain from camera appear
ances for several days. Mccoy. of
course, was fired forthwith. Film
folk, among other things, are loyal
TO members of their profession. Like
the sporting fraternity, they, too.
turned a cold shoulder toward the
appeal for funds for McCoy's defense
Only $500 Raised.
While there has been a very frigid
response to the Mccoy defense-fund
movement, there are some who con-
tributcd when the fund was first
started About $1,000 was all that
was raised, however. This has long
. since gone toward preliminary legal
sllirmishing in his behalf. OF this
sum Jack Dempsey is said to have
contributed $500, Jim Jeffries an
BOTHER $500 and the balance was OBJ