DEATH OF BOXER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23618, 30 March 1940, Page 12

DEATH OF BOXER

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST JENKIN-CALTAUX BOUT i FINDING OF THE CORONER [|lY TKLKOHAPII —I'RKS.S ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Friday, A finding that death was due to hemorrhage and laceration .of the brain was given at the inquest, which was concluded at I'etone, concerning the death of Stanley Wallace Jcnkin, aged 23, of.Dunedin, who died on March 5 after taking part the previous night in a professional boxing contest with Adolphe Victor Caltaux, of Auckland, for the welter-weight championship of New Zealand.

Dr. Lynch, pathologist, gave a report following a post-mortem examination which, iu effect, was that the injury to the' lira in was such, affecting as it did the respiratory and cardiac centres, that it produced a hopeless outlook. He did not think it could have arisen from a blow or blows on the front or side of the head. He understood that when deceased fell his head struck the floor. This fall, in his opinion, produced the fatal injuries in the brain substance. The other organs of the body presented a normal appearance. The heart and lungs were sound and there -was no bodily disease which would have rendered deceased liable to injury. Death was due to hemorrhage and laceration of the brain.

Referee's Evidence The referee, Leonard Stewart, said the contest was a dean-fought one. During tin; last round .Tonkin, who was well ahead oil points and fighting well, was knocked down, his head striking the floor hard. Ho rose at the count of eight and continued to light without showing an.v effects of being knocked down on the floor. He was then knocked down again, but rose at the count of three. .Tonkin was still showing little effect from the blows which sent him to the floor previously. On rising 011 the count of three he was rushed into a corner by Caltaux, who delivered a severe blow to the jaw, forcing Jonkin into a halfsitting position in the corner of the ring with his back resting on the pads protecting the corner post. No Foul Blows Struck

At this stage it was not necessary in witness' opinion to stop the fight as Jonkin was still on his feet and there was very little time to go. Caltaux thou delivered two uppercuts to the face. Witness saw that .Tonkin was out on his feet, so he stopped in between the men and raised Caltaux's hand and declared him the winner. .Immediately Caltaux stepped back .Tonkin collapsed on the floor. He was taken on a stretcher to his dressing room and was attended by two doctors. Witness was surprised to find him so seriously injured, as at no time during the fight did he show signs of distress and it was not apparent he had been knocked out until the time witness stopped the fight. It was witness' opinion that the last two blows Jenkin received wore the cause of his being knocked out. The ring, ho added, was in first-class condition. Caltaux struck no foul blows.