CHAIRMAN IN BOX

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22439, 20 September 1947, Page 6

CHAIRMAN IN BOX

MURPHY CASE

BOXING BUSINESS FEARS ABOUT FIGHTS SEARCH FOR TRUTH (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 20. The chairman of the New Zealand Boxing Association, James Russell Simpson, one of the defendants, entered the witness-box yesterday, when the libel action which Boswell Murphy is bringing against three boxing ofTicials entered its ninth day of hearing The hearing will be resumed next Wednesday. Murphy is claiming £25 damages from William Matthew Brosnan, a former member of the committee of the Hutt Valley Boxing Association; James Russell Simpson, chairman of the council of the New Zealand Boxing Association; and Alfred Stanley Parker, a member of the council of the association Mr. W. ,J. Stacey, with him Mr. R. E. Harding, are appearing for Murphy, Mr. E. F. Rothwell for Jroman, Mr. J. F. B. Stevenson, with him Mr. W. J Kemp, for Simpson and Parker. Simpson said the council had always had an open mind towards Murphy, as it had towards all boxers.

Mr. Harding: On the question ol Murphy's guilt or innocence, a great deal has come before this court that did not come before the council. The witness Vos. Council “Very Suspicious”

The witness went on to say that Brosnan had told him he was suspicious that the previous Murphy Jones light and the forthcoming one were trame ups and he had replied that it was no use coming to aim With idle talk.

Asked why he had not put the matter before the Hutt Valley Boxing Association, Brosnan had said that that body was dominated by one man. Stewart, and he would be wasting hit time putting the matter jefore the association. At a later date Bumnan sent in an affidavit to the council, which saw no reason for communicating with the Hutt Valley Association. At the time the council was very suspicious of the actions of the Hutt Valley Association.

Mr. Harding: Was it not a little short of mdeceni to keep silent about these matters to the Hutt Valley Association? The witness: I cannot agree. We were searching for the truth. Counsel: You knew ‘hat He association had exceeded the permitted purses and kept you in the dark about the excess?—Yes. Disciplinary Action

Counsel: On July 16 the Hutt Valley Association came to your meeting .mo admitted freely what it had done What disciplinary action have you taken against them?—Disciplinary action must be taken by the annual conference of the New Zealand Boxing Association, which will be held in Christchurch next week. It will be taken up then Simpson said that rule 61 (2) gave the council power to fine associations who exceeded the limit of purses. So much difficulty had arisen over the present dispute that the council had decided only to be guided in the future by its solicitor, Mr. Stevenson. Mr. Harding: Aldridge had a pretty free hand in what information he handed out to the press? The witness: No. ‘ I have had to reprimand Aldridge for the information given. Mr. Harding: You will admit that statements which were published on March 5 were important?—Yes. Mr. Harding: If these statements were not authorised by the council you must admit that there are two most irresponsible newspapers in Wellington?— Anyone could have given those statements to the papers. lam of opinion that the newspapers are only too ready to publish any information they can get. The papers always seem to know when a council meeting is on.

Mr. Harding: You will admit that it would have been better had a letter been written to Murphy asking him if it were true that he was relinquishing his welter-weight title and asking him if he would return the belt?—lt would have been more regular. To See That Fight Was Regular

Mr. Harding: Is it true that you posted spies at the ringside at the second fight between Jones and Murphy?—lt is true that Mr. Riesop and I attended at the ringside to see that the fight was open and above-board. Continuing, the witness said Brosnan had informed him that he had certain evidence to prove that all was not regular in the fights between Murphy and Jones, which he would place before the council later. Brosnan later produced an affidavit casting serious aspersions upon Stewart, the referee. Stewart attended the council meeting on March 7 and had earlier informed the witness that he had not been guilty of any corrupt practices. No one asked for Jones’ statement at the meeting on July 21 as Mr, Treadwell, Jones’ solicitor, said Jones had said he had made a statement under duress and that he repudiated it. The witness said he had never seen the statement, nor had he called for it.

Mr. Harding: Why would the council not agree to set up an independent tribunal' to deal with the dispute? The witness: Because the council saw no reason why it should abrogate the powers it held to the council of boxing. Mr. Harding: You, the defendants, said in effect. “We are going to try you?”—Yes. We were the court. Mr. Harding: Are you prepared to adjourn now and let Murphy decide whether you are guilty of libel? The magistrate: I am not going to allow that question to be put. The witness has no power to adjourn the action. Visit by Jones Cross-examined by Mr. Rothwell, the witness said that Farrell, president of the Auckland Boxing Association, had told him that Marshall was objecting to Jones fighting in the Hutt Valley and had threatened an injunction if he offered to do so. To Mr. Stevenson the witness said Jones called while a meeting of the council was in progress on June 6 and asked to be admitted. The council refused to admit him and wrote to him informing him that owing to a pending inquiry no steps could be taken towards restoring his license in the meantime. He had never seen or heard from Jones since. He did not know whether the police had given a permit for the Jones-Stevens fight. Further cross-examined by Mr. Harding, the witness said Jones had never made an application to have his license restored.

Leslie Alexander Tracy,_ a member of the boxing council, said the first time he had heard it suggested that the council bore any malice towards the Hutt Valley Boxing Assocition or Bos Murphy was in court. Cross-examined by Mr. Stacey, the witness said he attended a meeting of the council on July 16. This meeting was attended by Jones and his solicitor. Mr. Treadwell, who said Jones had made a statement. Jones retracted this statement at the meeting and said what he had previously told Aldridge was true. Jones also said that Brosnan s affidavit was true. The witness could not agree that it would have been fairer if the counci, had adjourned the inquiry until after Murphy’s libel action had been disposed of.

BOS MURPHY GOING TO U.K.

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 20. Boa Murphy, the well-known Wellington and New Zealand professional boxer, will leave Auckland by steamer today for England in quest of the British Empire middle-weight, title. He will be accompanied by another Wellington boxer, Johnny McKenna, who is also seeking experience overseas.