COSTELLO APOLIGISES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 109, 10 May 1928, Page 10

COSTELLO APOLIGISES.

TANEATUA BOXING SENSATION 1 REFEREE'S LAST FIGHT. D (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) d WHAKATANE, this day. ; Further particulars of the boxing sen- v sation at the Taneatua Association's tournament on Tuesday evening, when v the father of a defeated contestant, Ver- c i non Costello, jumped into the ring and ( i knocked out the referee, Mr. H. H. I Sharplin, of Tauranga, show that great commotion followed the incident. f j Although at one stage it appeared as C > if the crowd might make a demonstra- s > tion, Sergeant Clist was at hand and < i promptly arrested the offender and took ' . him to the police station. t > During the contest Costello, sen., was : warned by the referee to get back to f I his corner. 1 When the referee gave the decision 1 t against Costello, the latter's father lost -< t complete control of himself. He rushed 1 1 at the referee and hit him hard on the 1 . chin. Being right off his guard Mr. j Sharplin was unable to defend himself. , He staggered against the wall, dropped - to the floor, and was unconscious for f several seconds. t When charged at the Police Court, - Costello, who said he had been drinking, r pleaded guilty to the charge of assault. He added that he had since apologised a, to Mr. Sharplrn. e Mr. Sharplin is 70 years of age, and i was making, his last appearance in the t ring. He is a very popular man, and he has had a long connection with the t game.