BOXING FATALITY

Evening Star, Issue 17118, 11 August 1919, Page 6

BOXING FATALITY

INQUEST CONCLUDED

CASE OF SHEER MISFORTUNE

The Coroner (Mr H. Y. Widdowson-) resumed this morning the inquest, regarding the death of Jamee Keay, who died 1 on the sth inst. as a result of injuries received' In a boxing- contest at His Majesty's Theatre on the previous evening. Chief-detective Bishop conducted] tho case for the Grown, and Mr B. S. Irwin appeared to watch the interests of James Macdonald, deceased's opponent in i/he contest.

Dr Drennan submitted his report on his post mortem examination of the body. This showed, shortly, that there was A bruise over the evebrow and another on the right cheek, both of a superficial nature. A thin interrupted layer of bicod clot and a small amount of fluid blood were distributed over the surface of the brain, and clote over tho 3k>llows of the, base of the ekall. There "was no fracture of the base of tho skull! or fraeturo or dislocation of the neck. The organs ■were all healthy. Th* report concluded : " Frou the facts dkclosed in the above examination I am of the opinion that the deceased' died from oonouKßion of the brain due to his falling heavily on n rigid bnt padded surface. Further, tho only evidence of bruising- on the face would not bo sufficient to account for death. Further- there is no evidence of bruising on the chest or abdomen. The abr'ormil condition of the appendix has been duo to <* previous appentEcdtio quiescent at the time of death."

In cnawer to tho Coroner, witness said that the fact of deceased going through a severe contest wo-jld not cause congestion of the brain to any appreciable extent. Joseph Isaacs, secretary "of the Boxing .Association, produced tho police permit to hold tho tournament on August 4, also the medical certificate as to deceased's physical fitness to take part. Witness added' that police officer* were present at the touma-rn-ent.

To the Coroner: If the police noticed anything happening of which they disapproved.l they could at once stop a contest. Tile rin.3 was in accordance with the rules and _ regulations (produced), being of tho maximum measurement. The regulations were carried out in every way.

Dr L. M. M'Bride said lie was president of tho Otago Boxing Association, and was referee at the tournament. Ho medically ojeamincd deceased in the morning, and gave a certificate of fitness. Tho content, between deceased and Macdonald was a perfectly friendly bout. Dining tho conteat Macdonald was knocked down on two occasions, and up to the time Keay fell (a few seconds before the final gong would have Bounded) he (Keay) was winning on poinfcn. Both boxers were very tired in the last round. Keay was struck on tho jaw with, a "left hook" by Macdonald. It was anything but a heavy blow, neither man being in a condition to deliver a heavy blow. Deceased fell on his back, and his head struck tho padded Hour heavily. Tho floor was well protected, being padded with one more layer than the regulations required. The gloves were Boz glovea. To the Coroner : The rcsujt of tho fall on the padded floor would, nave the same result as if a man wore sandbagged: the blow would leave no external marks.

Henry Withey, machinist, who was deceased'fi second in the contest, said deceased had just turned 21 years of age, and was a friend of his. He came from Fairli-o for the contest, and had previously competed here. Tho bout was a perfectly friendly one, there being absolutely no ill-feoling on either sidsi.

Dr M'Bride, recalled, said that immediately deceased was injured witness, I')'.' Harrison., arid Dr Hall accompanied him (Reay) in tho ambulance to this Hospital. James Aloysius Patrick Macdonnld, 28 years of ape, lalxiror, in the ompl n rf fepeight and Co., taid he wi, 12*1 Keay weighed 12st 121b. During the bout with Keay witness was knocked down twic©. Towards tho ci.d of the- content ■witness struck deceased with a left on the jaw. It was not a hi aw blow, witness Oeing then vnry tired. The bout was a perfectly friendh one on Ixith <«i<l •* Witness had never taken pait iu a bo v ui' rontast in N&w Zealand b toio but 1 id fought onco in Svdne\ v hile on i im( there. Ho was a native of Dunedin, wherhe had been all hii Ufe, with the c"v«ji tion of a stay of a fe,w months in Australia. Ho had been on active service, and invalided home with iheumntic fevei

Renreant M r ß.ae, who was present during the tournament, said he saw the permit authorising the tournament and thnecessary certificates prior to the cor'eot between deceased and Macdouald. Thi. cont-ost was apparently a friendly bout and witness saw nothing to which exception could be taken.

Tha Coroner reviewed tho evidence at length. The- whole niiaueamenti of th tournament, he added npr>"a>pd t-i h->\c been carried out, m \<r iTrlanco with thi law end with the iule-4 and and bo far as he could see theie \ i nothmif to which evception could be taken It had l been a most unfortunate occur renoo, was deeply to be, deplored that a young man, evidently in the pink of health, should have met his death in that way. Bub it to be e <a«e of sheer misfortune. Owing to the serious ness of the matter he had asked Dr Drennan to make a post mortem examination, and this had borne out the opi nions previously expressed hv Dis Ifain son and Hall. Jt decent d to ha\e been a very line, healthv. young nii.o and that the heavy f ill ha/1 up con cussion, which had" caused death. There was nothing more he could say on the matter.

Mr Irwin remarked that Macdonald felt the matter very keenly, and he would be glad if the coroner would express bis opinion regarding his (Macdonald's) share in it. " '

The Coroner &iud it had been shown that the contest *vas of a friendly character, and apparently carried out in a fail' and honorable manner throughout. Personally be could -not see that any blame whatever could he attributed to Maccionald. Nothing more could he done than had been done if boxing was to be allowed at all, and he could see no reason why it should; not be. Th-e verdiot was that deceased died in the Dmiedin Hospital on August 5 from concussion of the biain due to a fall, the result of a blow dealt by James Aloyfiius Patrick Macdonald the previous night in a boxing contest.