FATAL PRIZE FIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8629, 27 July 1891, Page 5

FATAL PRIZE FIGHT.

VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER. The City Coroner of Sydney concluded, on July 16tfa, an inquest upon the body of Edwin James Lloyd, who died a few hours after having taken part in a prize fight with fists at Belmore, on Saturday afternoon, the 4th July. Inspector Larkins appeared on behalf of the police, and had in his custody Sydney Benfield, Robert Pearce, senior, Robert Pearce, junior, Edmund Clarke, John Fenwick, 'William Scahill, Frank Livingston, William Hallette, and William Kauffman. Mr. W. P. Crick appeared for Clarke, Mr. Charles Bull and Mr. Amess for Fenwick and Kauffman, and Mr. Russell-Jones for Benfield, Scahill, Hallette, Livingston, and the Pearces.

Mather White Turner, florist, residing at Belmore Park, Belmore, was present at Morris's corner, Belmore, when the arrangements for the fight were made; the winner of the fight was to receive £1; he did not hear anyone offer to hold the stakes. James Livingston, labourer, residing at Belmore, heard someone ask deceased to leave off fighting, and heard deceased refuse. ' William Pearce, labourer, residing at Peakhurst, son of Robert Pearce, sen., heard his father asking both men to stop fighting ;• the fight, as far as he could see, was a fair one. By the Coroner : The spot where the fight took place was soft ground covered with grass. * Constable William Mannell arrested Benfield at two a.m. on Sunday. Benfield then told him that the fight had been arranged by John and Peter Fenwick and the two principals and others, on Sunday, June 28 ; the stakes wero 10s a-side, 2s were put up to bind the match. - Lloyd was asked if his father was agreeable to the fight, and Lloyd answered " Yes." The accused wanted to stop the fight after the second round, but Lloyd persisted. The fight wasjiretty even until the las t round when the accused hit Lloyd on the ribs with one hand and over the eye with the other. Lloyd then became unconscious and accused was declared the winner. Accused shook hands just before Lloyd became unconscious. When accused was declared winner the stakes were handed over to him by Robert Pearce, jun. Accused further stated that he stopped and tried to fetch Lloyd round, and failing that Lloyd was put in a cart and sent home. On the morning of the Bth Edmund Clark came to witness' residence and surrendered himself. Clarke told witness that he had been asked to keep time, but that he had refused on the ground of not understanding the rules. V

The Coroner, in slimming up, pointed out to the jury that if they believed the evidence before them, they must convict Benfield for manslaughter, and the other prisoners for aiding and abetting. In giving the definition of an accessory, he stated that anyone who .took any part in the fight was an accessory, such, as for instance, those who wiped the faces of the con|i testants, and those who called timo; but" no one who merely held the stakes would be termed an accessory. " The jury, after an hour and a-half's deliberation, returned the verdict as follows :—" Wo find that the said Edwin James Lloyd, at Belmore, in the district of Sydney, on the 4th day of July, died from the effect of blows inflicted on him by one Sydney Benfield at a fight at Belmore on the same day ; and we further find that William Kauffman, William Hallett, William Scahill, and John Fenwick, at the same time and place were present aiding, abetting, and encouraging him (Sydney Benfield) in inflicting the same mortal injuries upon him, Edwin James Lloyd ; and we further say that they, in the manner and by the means aforesaid, at Belmore, Edwin James Lloyd, unlawfully and feloniously did kill and slay." The remaining prisoners, Robert Pearce, sen., Robert Pearce, jun., Edmund Clarke, and Frank vingston were then liberated. All the prisoners found guilty applied for bail, and the coroner fixed it in each case at, the accused in £'200, with one surety in £200, or two sureties in £100 each. Mr. William Morris, of Canterbury, went bail for Benfield, and bail was also found for the other prisoners.