The Boreham-Brodie Dispute.

Otago Witness, Volume 01, Issue 2123, 1 November 1894, Page 42

The Boreham-Brodie Dispute.

In oonsequence of the letters which have appeared iv this column, we feel called upon to give an expression of opinion on the Boreham* Brodie dispute, soeing that it not only involves the charaoter of Mr Brodie, but is likely to lead to much unprofitable wrangling, in no way creditable to the participants in particular or New Zealand draughts players in general. We do not purpose dealing with the letters of Mr Boraham or Mr Brodie in detail, as neither of them will bear close inspection, but as briefly aa possible to refer to the charge against Mr Brodie. Mr Boreham makes it "premeditated trickery," but on examination it will be seen that the adiective "premeditated," if justified by fact, wouldlay Mv Boreham open to a more serious charge in the cye3 of his supporters -that of practically throwing the game away. If Mr Brodie preconceived the idea of trapping his opponent into a loss by default, he must have foreKnown, or been cognisant of, culpable negligence on the part of Mr Boreham, whereby he would have an opportunity of gaining his end. Now, no one, we presume, would dream of accusing Mr Boreham of intentional careleaßness, and so far as our close observation went we saw nothing at all that would occasion the idea of trapping him into a loss by default. We may I mention here that Mr Brodie iv his letter accuses his opponent of having concocted a "well-laid scheme" in connection with the same point: this, of course, is beyond the region of debate. The "trickery" is a charge of "acting to deceive"— viz., studying or poring over tho board, and doing so in order to keep his opponont in ignorance that it was his move. On this point some people were of opinion that we, in the interests of the game, should have mado some specific charge against Mr Brodie, and flippantly spoke of "putting a stop to such practices. But we have yet to h'nd ground for a charge. The same circumstances outwardly had transpired in a game earlier in the match than the eleventh. Mr Boreham was called to time, but instead of moving at once, the second hand of the timekeepers watch marked off 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 seconds of the minute's grace, and no move was made, while spectators held their breath and doubted whose turn it was, as both players scanned the board. Just as the minute expired, however, the move was made, and at the close of the game we drew Mr Boreham's attention to his narrow escape. Referring to this game, also, Mr Biodie remarked, "That was a terribly long minute; I thought it was all up with the game." The bearing of this incident upon the eleventh game is obvious. The circumstances were almost identical, the difference being that Mr Boreham was not aware it was his move. But then, this difference was not caused by his opponent. Towards the close of "time" the Dunedinite kept his ej es fixed upon the board, and during the minute's grace he shifted in his chair and appeared anxious, and on this he is charged with "acting to deceive.' His actions, of course, are harmless in themselves — \s c want evidence on the point of intention. In the face of Mr Boreham's narrow escape in a previous game, and the fact that the reprehensible practice of "playing out time" was being indulged in, it is very natural that a young man like Mr Brodie in such an important match should experience a keen anticipation as the seconds flew by, and his anxiety should bhow in his actions. But, on the other hand, he may have been "acting to deceive." This latter interpretation Mr Brodie denies, and we see no alternative but to accept his word in the face of any evidenco that can be adduced. Who steals my purse steals trash ; But'he who filches from me ray good name Robs me of that \vjii h not clinches him, And loaves me poor indeed.

Much sympathy was expressed in th« room for Mr Boreham on his loss, and ho, viewing the incident as he did, was, of course, greatly incensed, and this in turn gave rise to one or two evidences of strained relations which would otherwise never have occurred ; but we have pleasure in recording that Mr Boreham, when he left Dunedin, had won for himself a" higher place in the estimation of those who had known him previously.