Evening star., 1946-03-04
Coroner toHoId
Inquiry Today
In Boxer Death
Dixon Walker Dies
Of Broin Hemorrhuge
After Knockout

PROVIDENCE Hospital OF injuries Suf-
fered in a bout Saturday night at
Catholic University.
Mr.. Walker, junior student from
Canton, Ohio, was felled by sharp
left by Gus Gersin, %, of Catholic
University, and struck the floor of
the ring hard blow with the back
Of his head.
Although knocked out, Mr. Walker
regained consciousness while being
examined by Dr.. John Simpson,
physician for the Catholic Univer-
sity team, and was permitted to
leave the ring. He watched the fol-
lowing bout from the Maryland
bench, but shortly thereafter was
led to the dressing room when he
complained to teammates that he
felt ill.
Collapsed in Dressing Room.
Mr. Walker collapsed in the dress
ing room and was taken to the hos
pital In an ambulance. DR.. D. j. w.
Watts, brain surgeon, operated to
relieve a cerebral hemorrhage, with
DR.. Simpson and DR.. Walcott L.
Etienne, Maryland University physi-
clan, in attendance The youth did
not regain consciousness and died
at $3.50 am. yesterday.
Instead of an inquest, Coroner A.
Magruder Macdonald arranged to
confer at 1880 am. today with the
coaches of the Maryland and Cath
olic University boxing teams, Col.
Harvey L. Miller and Eddie La Fond,
respectively, along with Referee
Harry Volkman, Boxing Judges o.
U. Singer and Joseph Aronoff, and
Mr.. Gersin.
Mr.. Gersin, also third-year STU
dent, was engaging in his first
bout since returning to school from
the Navy, where he had been a
lieutenant, Junior grade, and a tor
pedo bomber pilot. After Mr.. Wal
ker's death Mr.. Gersin was taken
to the twelfth precinct. but was re-
leased without charges for appear
ance at the coroner's conference
today.
Called Best Conditioned"
Mr.. Walker, termed the best
conditioned" boxer on the Maryland
squad, entered the university last
month after serving as a naval
aviation cadet at the University of
North Carolina prefiight school,
His death is believed to be the
first in the history Of local inter-
collegiate boxing, although in Janu-
ary, 1887, in Lexington, Va, Mike
Lombardo, a Maryland boxer, scored
a technical knockout over Jack East
ham, substitute Virginia Military
Institute ringman, who later died
VMI abandoned boxing as a result.
In this connection, DR.. H. C. Byrd,
president of Maryland University,
said today that the schools policy
of regarding intercollegiate boxing
as permanent major sport will not
be altered by Mr.. Walkers death.
while it was tragic occurrence, !"
DR.. Byrd said, II do not feel that it
should mean the end of intercol-
legiate boxing at Maryland. In any
body-contact sport, there remains
the danger of injury and I believe
that it will be found that boxing
does not rate as high in fatalities as
several other sports. We have no
intention here at Maryland to drop
boxing as a result of this accident,
which deeply grieve."
Boxers Appeared Equal.
Meeting as GI Bill of Rights
students, Mr.. Walker and Mr.. Ger
sin appeared evenly matched in
every physical respect. They wore
regulation l2-ounce gloves. Before
the bouts both coaches and DR..
Simpson gave all participants
thorough examinations.
Mr.. Walker appeared rational
when he left the ring and asked Mr..
Gersin: What happened-did
get knocked out?" The knockout
occurred in the first round when
the fight had been under way only
40 seconds.
Notified Of the accident, the
parents of Mr.. Walker, Mr.. and Mrs
Clyde Walker, flew here early yes
terday from Canton and were at
the hospital when their son died
Coach La Fond quoted Mrs. Walker
as saying: "It was the will of God
I feel sorry for the boy who boxed
him"
Members of both boxing teams
went to the hospital Saturday
night and remained there until
am, when they attended a mass at
the Church of the Immaculate Con-
ception.
Requiem Mass Sung.
Solemn requiem high mass was
sung at 9 o'clock this morning at
the National Shrine of the Immacu-
late Conception. The celebrant was
the Rev. DR.. Edgar A. Lang, dean
of men at Catholic University. Other
participants were the Rev. James
Ridge, deacon; the Rev. George
Lynch, subdeacon, and the Very
Rev. Ignatius Smith, dean of the
school of philosophy, who eulogized
the young athlete, saying:
ne was nODle student, nnely
conditioned athlete, a great team
man and fine pal" Addressing
the parents, Father Smith expressed
the university's deep appreciation
Of your ready and complete exon
GRAFTON of every one connected with
this gruesome tragedy" Adding
that Maryland and Catholic Uni
versity teams have enjoyed cordial
athletic relations over a long span
he said: This sorrow has seemed
to fuse us in a new understanding
and this friendly competition be-
tween the two universities will con-
tinue as memorial to Dixon
Walker o."
The body will be returned to
Canton for burial
kA~~kl NIl d. D.xI