KILLED IN THE PRIZE RING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2637, 20 October 1909, Page 2

KILLED IN THE PRIZE RING.

THE DEATH OF JACK CLARKE

NOT A CASE OF MANSLAUGHTER

At the Newcastle Circuit Court, before Mr. Justice Pring, Frederick John Thomas Burrowes, on bail, was charged that he did, on August 22, at Taroe, feloniously slay one Jack Clarke. Mr. R. Cowan instructed by Mr. D. Cowan, appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. Thomas Walsh, a laborer, said lie was connected with a tent at Wigbam. In the tent a fight took place between the accused and a man named John Clarke. He subsequently saw the body of Clarke. He was present when the fight took place. The’ men fought with gloves the best of ten rounds. The gloves weighed 60z., and the fight lasted rounds.. It was a fair fight. Witness acted as one of Clarke’s seconds, and the latter did not appear to have any the worse of the fight. About the middle of the ninth, round Clarke got down on one knee, and witness picked him up and put him on a chair. Clarke remained there a couple of seconds and them walked across the room and shook ( Lands with the accused. Clarke did" not receive any punishment during the fight; He- was not knocked against anything. He received a few blows about the face, but did not. seem to get ,a hit to knock him down. Clarke’s face was not disfigured in any way. After the fight witness went to arrange to get the principals into the ri ig leaving Clarke in charge of Kelly Minefield. Fifteen minutes, later,: when he returned to the ring, he saw Clarke was unconscious.. He remained with Clarke about half an Hour. Subsequently Clarke was taken to the hospital, where lie-died at 6 o’clock, on the following Sunday evening. He appeared'.to'be in good health when he entered the .ring. To Mr. Cowan: It-was a fair go from start to finish. Clarke Wcii forced on to the ropes once. The tight took place on an 18ft stage roped in'" Clarke had' not been struck before lie fell. They were fighting twominute'rounds, with one-minute interval ,between each. Clarice was fit and lively when he entered on the ninth round. The two lads were quite friendly'all through. After coming on to the stage Clarke walked over and shook hands with accused. To the Crown Prosecutor: The lads were fighting for a 30s purse. Constable Moore, stationed at Wigham, said he saw the contest between Clarke and Burrowes. In the first round Burrowes hit Clarke in the mouth, causing blood to flow. At this stage Hs Honor said it did not appear to him there was any evidence to support a charge of manslaughter. The contest was limited to a certain number of rounds, and the evidence of the first" witness went to show that the fight was a fair one. It was not a fight to a finish, and no brutality had been shown; The. Crown Prosecutor said 1 he would not press the charge any further, and at the direction 'of His Honor the jury. returned a verdict of not guilty, and the accused was discharged.. ." V ,