Evening star., 1927-03-23
EIGHT ARRESTED
ON BOUT CHARGES
and Promoters of
District Athletic Club Fights
to Face Court.


paign against prize-fghting is official
~ regarded as an unlimited bout to
decision, Supt. of Police Edwin B.
Hesse today was preparing to seek
speedy prosecution of the eight men
arrested in the raid on the District
Athletic Club bouts last night at the
Washington Auditorium.
\ conference has been arranged
with Ralph Given, assistant District
attorney, by Assistant Supt. of Police
Charles A. Evans for tomorrow morn
ing, at which plans for bringing the
matter to the earliest attention Of the
courts will be laid
The fights last night had proceeded
through the preliminaries and ND to
the final round Of the main bout be-
tween Henry Lamar and J. 1effords
Smith, when Inspector Evans and
Lieut.. Michael Raedy of the Third
Precinct quietly walked into the ring
1,500 Spectators Leave.
TITS all over" announced Inspector
Evans. Choose your exit and leave
quietly.'
Fifteen hundred spectators took the
advice. Police said that they did not
seem to mind this particular bout
being stopped and that they had been
venting their Indifference to an un-
equal combat by shouting sundry
boos' and cat-calls at the ring
AS the crowd left in orderly manner
police proceeded t6 arrest principals.
Joseph NJ. Bateman, veteran boxing
promoter and president of the club,
was later released under 81 900 bond
for appearance in court. Henry Lamar.
well known locally as a former top
notch amateur boxer and member of
a Virginia family prominent in ma
tional affairs for several genera tons
and his opponent. Smith, were each
released on 81 900 bond.
Five Held Overnight.
The five others, including Joey Fox
of Philadelphia, Frank Weinert of
Walter Reed Hospital and Harry NJ.
Gauzza. Galen w. jackson and Joe
Perrone, all of this city. were held
overnight until the could arrange
bond. This morning they were each
released under 81 900 bond, with in
structions 10 be ready to appear
tomorrow.
The paraphernalia used for the
bouts was seized as evidence by the
police. This included boxing gloves
the mat, ropes and books of the Dis
trict Athletic Club.
Police officials maintain that the
case IN well in hand from their view.
point. The arrests are made under
sectlon 676 Of the District of Columbia
Code, prohibiting fighting for money,
bouts for which admission Is charged.
directly or indirectly" or bouts In
which the principals contend for a
prize OF money or are paid for their
endeavors.
The District Athletic Club. Inc.
contends, according to the police, that
II Is regularly organized and bona
fide club and that the bouts were at
tended only by it's members. To this
contention police reply they have pro-
cured evidence that many Of the mem
bershlp tickets were purchased on
Applications put in on the day of and
Just before the fights last night.
which precluded the applications be.
ing posted and voted on in accord
ance with recognized club rules.
The application for membership
stipulates the applicant will receive
full privileges upon payment of dues
during the time of posting the aDuIIca.
tions and before the applications are
voted on.
"As long az the law stays as II Is"
Maj. iIesse said today, "the Police
Department Is going TO enforce il.
The law does not permit subterfuges
In regard TO the admission, from our
viewpoint, and we can see very little
difference between the purchase of a
ticket of admission from "a box Office
and the purchase Of a membership
card from the office shortly before the
fight, when in reality both mean the
same thing-that the purchaser or
the member ca get in to see the fight.
suppose we'll have to keep on fight.
ing fights until we convince promoters
of public bouts in the Cuise Of clubs
that it is not profitable"