WRESTLER FINED

Southland Times, Issue 21219, 21 October 1930, Page 4

WRESTLER FINED

ASSAULT ON REFEREE.

SEQUEL TO HEATED CONTEST.

(Per United Press Association.)

Wellington, October 20. Billy the wrestler, was charged before Mr McNeil, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day with assaulting Alex uundyn, who refereed the contest with Tom Alley. Edwards who did not appear, was represented by Mr J? D. Wilk, who entered a plea of not guilty. Senior-Sergeant Butler said' that after Edwards was disqualified he appeared to resent the decision. At this time Alley was lying on the mat temporarily out of action. “Lundyn appeared to be explaining the decision when I noticed he seemed to push Edwards in the face. Edwards then struck Lundyn on the jaw and the referee hastily left the ring.” Mr Willis: Did Edwards actually hit the referee ?

Senior-Sergeant Butler: I consider that the blow connected.

Counsel: You were present all night?— Yes.

Counsel: The whole thing was conducted in a proper manner by the association 1 — Yes. Counsel: And an announcement was made prior to the contest forbidding undue roughness?—Yes. Counsel: Can you say that there was undoubtedly an assault?—l saw the referee next morning. He was t\ bit loth to say anything about it, but when I taxed him with putting his hands on Edwards's throat, he said he put both hands on Edwards's shoulder to push him away. Mr Willis said that when arranging the match the Wellington Wrestling Association had taken steps to appoint, a professional referee. Counsel submitted" that Lundyn had'without warning made an unprovoked attack on Edwards. Lundyn was himself a professional wrestler 13st. in weight. Edwards had adequate justification for throwing Lundyn off. A "storm in a teacup” had been raised about the matter by people who knew nothing of the facts and he asked that the case should be dismissed as trivial.

The Magistrate: I think that there was not any justification to allow Edwards to strike the referee as he did. Counsel called John Connolly, announcer, and Lundyn. Connolly said that the more Edwards spoke to him the more excited Lundyn became. Lundyn was close to Edwards, waving his . finger in the latter's face until the temptation became so great, that Lundyn grabbed Edwards by the throat. Lundyn, to the amusement of the public at the back of the court, demonstrated what had happened with a policeman as a subject. He asid that he did not feci anything when he was hit. He admitted that he was excited. So was Edwards.

"All parties were very heated, no doubt,” Mr McNeil said, “and the whole atmosphere was charged with excitement. Still the fact is that Edwards, being a man who appears before the public regularly, should have been able to accept the referee’s ruling without showing the resentment he did. However, it is not a very serious matter. I, think justice of the case will be met if I convict Edwards and fine him £l.”