BITING A MAN'S EAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21912, 22 September 1934, Page 2 (Supplement)

BITING A MAN'S EAR

CHAMPION BOXER'S OFFENCE

PRISON FOR JACKIE BROWN

SEQUEL TO STREET QUARREL

" The King against John Brown." These five words uttered by the Clerk of the Court at Manchester last month opened a dramatic trial which ended in Jackie Brown, the world's 24-year-old fly-weight boxing champion, being sentenced to four months' imprisonment with hard labour. The case was a sequel to a street quarrel .between Brown and another man, and it was stated that while they wore at grips the second man's ear was bitten. Mr. Wingate-Saul, prosecuting counsel said that the nature of tbb assault was that of biting about all inch of Louis Tarchman's ear in the course of a brawl in a Manchester street. On July 1 Tarchman, accompanied by another man and two young women, went from Manchester to Blackpool, and when about to leave an hotel there on the return journey they came into contact with Brown. Brown called one of the women, Mrs. Vera Sheldon, known as " Blondie," aside, and when Tarchman appeared later Brown said to him, "Go away." According to counsel this was resented by Tarchman, who turned to Brown and remarked, " You may be the champion of the world, but you hold no terrors for me." Counsel summarised events that followed. Tarchman, " Blondie," and the other man and woman set off from Blackpool by car for Manchester. They stopped altogether three times on the journey, and Brown's car, which was driven by a chauffeur, also stopped at the same places. The last stop was where the charges originated. " He is Biting My Ear " According to counsel, Tarchman alighted there to go to a police telephone box to report that he was being followed by Brown. Brown then called to him, got out of his car, and words followed. " In the end," continued Mr. "Wingate-Saul, " there was a set-to, and people who hail gathered heard Tarchman call out three times, ' He is biting my ear.' " Counsel further alleged that while Tarchman was holding both hands to his injured ear Brown went up to him and struck him a blow on the chin. Ho then walked to his car and was driven away. Louis Tarchman, the first witness, was wearing a bandage round his bead and right oar. He denied provoking Brown in any way, and also denied that he had insulted him by calling him a " cheese champion." Nor was it true, lie declared, that he told Brown that only four years ago ho was " holding the bucket" for him (Tarchman). " 1 could not have said that," declared Tarchman, " for it would be untrue."

Tarchman stated that he himself had won medals as an amateur boxer, and in reply to the Recorder, Sir Walter Greaves-Lord, declared he had never been called in question about a foul blow. Further, it was not the case that he had ever spoken to Brown before this particular night. He had seen him in the ring, but that was all. Mr. Saul: What actually happened when you stopped at the police telephone box?— Brown got out of his car and struck me with his fist. Then he started biting my ear. ft seen\ed ages to me before he stopped. Mr. J. C. Jackson, K.C., defending counsel: Did you know that "Blondie " was a married lady and a friend of Mrs. Brown? —Xo. Were you afraid of Brown that night?—Xo. Statement by Defendant

Brown, in the witness box, denied using offensive language to Tarchmnn, and explained that he was interested in Mrs. Sheldon simply because he and his wife were friends of hers. "When he was at grips with Tarchman, the latter knocked him on the groin, and in the excruciating pain that followed ho might have bitten Torchman's car unknowingly. After it was over he was driven to his trainer. Mr. Harry Fleming, who applied cold dressings in the early hours of the morning. Brown further alleged that on the journey from Blackpool to Manchester iiis car was overtaken by Tarchman's and the latter shouted an offensive remark. • Mr. Saul: And after all these insults all you said to Tarchman was, " Don't be a silly fellow?" —Yes. You did not use a swear word at all? —No.

Mr. Saul: You were alone in your car except for the chauffeur. Is it not the case that you wanted " Blondie " to leave the others and go with you?" Brown: No. I was only anxious about her safety. She and her husband have been friends with my wife and I for several years. VerOict and Sentence

Mrs. Sheldon gave evidence that slio had heard some reference made by Tarchman about " cheese champion and " holding the bucket." On the journey to Manchester, she stated, Tarchman and the other man had a conversation, and told her afterward they were going to enter Manchester by a route that Brown would not follow. In returning the jury's verdict after .30 minutes' absence, the foreman added that they believed Brown had acted under great provocation. Then came the sentence. " I am giving full weight to the jury's rider." stated the Recorder, " and you will go to prison for four months with hard labour." Mr. D. Lumiansky, Brown's manager for countries outside Britain, saw him a few minutes later in the detention cells " Jackie took it on the chin," he said later. "He was a man % as I have always known him to be. When I left him his last words were. ' Please look after the wife and baby, Dave.' " Brown and His Title The News of the World says:—" Will the Stewards of the British Boxing Board of Control be called upon to consider the position of Brown in view of his sentence? According to the regulations of the Board, a title may be forfeited if the holder is convicted of felony or a misdemeanour. It may even call before it any member guilty of misconduct, which term includes " conduct detrimental to the interests of the public. " Whether or not Brown will be able to appear before the Board is a different matter, as his sentence must preclude his doing so unless the Stewards are prepared to wait. While the Board has it in its power to depose him and declare his British title of fly-weight champion vacant, lie may still retain his world's title." Since 1929 Jackie Brown has been the idol of Manchester. His record includes some brilliant performances, among which his defeats of Valentin Angelmann and Young Perez, the world's former title-holder, will best bo remembered.