FATAL PRIZE FIGHT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7228, 30 April 1884, Page 5

FATAL PRIZE FIGHT.

(Sydney jUbi*iiin<; Ucvald, April IS.) A fatal occurrence, the circumstances surrounding which lead to the belief that it was the result of premediated action, took place at an early hoar yesterday morning about 100 yards beyond the bridge on the Brunnerong road, and near the back of the Randwlek racecourse. It would appear, from information received by the police yesterday, that during the past few days, arrangements, of which they were totally ignorant, were made between two men named James Lawson and Alick Agar or Williams, for a prize fight, the stakes being -t'-5 a-side. Bot.i men were more or less identified with the art of boxing; and Lawson, who is a coloured man, and comparatively" a recent arrival from California, was well known amongst certain classes, having figured somewhat conspicuously iu connection with the Miller aud Foley exhibitions. Agar was a Victorian, and was not to be compared with Lawson for size or strength. It is stated that he had lately come over from Melbourne for the purpose of attending the race meet ing, and that the match was made on the racecourse by the men and their admirers. The proceedings were carried out in a systematic manner, seconds, referee, and timekeeper having been appointed. According to arrangements the men and their seconds met at the hack of the racecourse shortly after daylight yesterday morning, aud wore soon joined by a large number of others who wore in the secret, and by the time the fight commenced, from 100 to 150 men had congregated on the spot. A ring was formed and the men commenced the combat, cheered and urged on by the onlooker's. Seven rounds were fought when the proceedings terminated fatally, by Agar'receiving a blow over the left eye that caused his death. On receiving the blow be staggered and fell, never to rise again, mid he was afterwards picked up, placed iu a cab driven by (. man named Sydney Denham, and was hurried off to the hospital. On arriving at the hospital the man was examined and ionnd to bo dead, and it was then, through the prompt action of Dr Brn:e, who telephoned to the Central Police Station, that the police received information of the. fio-ht. This was about six o’clock in the morning. Two constables pi ooeoded to tire Hospital and took charge of the body, which was afterwards removed to the South Sydney Morgue. The cabman was detained, {ind from information received Sub-Inspector Bremncr subsequently arrestee! Lawson in an hotel in Sussex street, and ho was taken to the Central Police Station, and locked up on the charge of having caused the death of Agar. A number of other arrests were also made in connection with the affair'.