Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-16
NO TRACE SLAYER
OF BATTLING SIKH
IN GOTHAM SEARCH

New York, Dec. 5.-(AP)-Fo-
lice were combing the cafes, cabarets
and upper West Side haunts OF the
underworld tonight for the slayer
of Battling Sikh. The Senegalese
pugilist, never one to contine MS
fighting to the squared circle, fought
his last fight in the hours before
dawn today on "HelPs Kitchen
sidewalk Twelve hours after dis
covery of his body, with two bullet
wounds in the back, the lighting
child of the jungle, former bell mop
and bar-room boy, decorated Worlo
War veteran, prize fighter ana par
ticipant in countless street ana par
room brawls, lay in a morgue Whlle
police still were without an lmpor-
tant clue to the identity of his MUIR
derer.
The authorities were working on
the theory that Sikh had become IN
an argument in one of the nuTner-
Gus night clubs near where his body
was found, and that he was 1oi-
lowed into the street and murdered.
Skis body was found and loen-
titled by Patrolman John }. Meehah'
an acquaintance. 1t lay race down
on the sidewalk on West 4lst street.
And in the gutter nearby was 1ounu
a revolver with two exploded snelis
in the chambers. -Four hours Garner
the policeman said, he had met the
Senegalese a short distance from
where the body was found ana the
two had exchanged greetings. AT
that time Sikh had said that ne was
going home. The police could nnd
no witnesses to the shooting. For
NAL identification of the BODY was
made at the morgue by Skis WIDOW
an octoroon, formerly Lillian Wer-
ner, Whom he married little more
than a year ago. She told ponce
that she last had seen her huspahu
at the street door of their apartment
on West And street, about seven
o'clock last night. He told her that
he was going ''out to talk with some
of the boys The widow SAID she
had gone to movie, had returned
about IL o'clock and, hndlng tnat
her husband had not returned went
to bed. She was awakened To-Day
with the news of his death.
Mrs. Phal, (Siki's real name was
Louis PhaD, told police she beheVeo
she knew who had shot her nus
band. She said Sikh had eaten IN
restaurant in the neighborhood the
night before and his overcoat hao
been stolen. He had said he knew
who took it and would go PACK at
a time when he suspected the thiei
would be there. This, and story
that Sikh had had trouble with d
neighbor over a $40 liquor debt were
the only clues police had TO WORK
upon. A.
An autopsy performed at the
norgue by DR.. Cha4les Norris, cniel
medical examiner, revealed thd'
Sikh had died of internal memoir
rhage, caused by two bullet Wouiios
in the back One bullet LODGED III
the right lung and the other IN the
chest
The widow attended the autopsy
and tainted several times during the
ordeal. ia 81
tHe was a good boy" she said oil
the fighter. He was just mlschleN-
Gus. He would never harm any
body" ,,,o had
skis penchant for trouble mao
nrecipitated him into many street
hrawls and into unfriendly relations
with the police, and the sectioh III
which he met his death mas peeh
particularly unfortunate one III
him. At almost the spot where nc
was killed he was STABBED win a
knife last summer. only ten uas'
90 he was Knocked down IN an aitel
cation with patrolman ana wa
charged with felonious assault To-
This offense he was saved from
term in the workhouse oniy ny
plea for leniency by his WIFE,