BOXER’S DEATH

Southland Times, Issue 21834, 11 October 1932, Page 7

BOXER’S DEATH

LATE HARRY JOHNS. INQUEST HELD. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, October 10. Evidence concerning the fatal boxing match at the Town Hall on Monday evening last was given in the Police Court this afternoon when the inquest concerning the death of Henry (“Harry”) Valentine Johns was resumed before' the Coroner, Mr Hunt, S.M. Johns was knocked out in the fourteenth round of his contest with Archie Hughes and later collapsed and he died in the Auckland Hospital on the following morning without regaining consciousness. Evidence was given by Dr Cafell that when deceased was admitted to the hospital he was suffering from head and body bruises. He was unconscious and was suffering from a cerebral haemorrhage. An operation was immediately performed but Johns died at 7 a.m. The covering of the brain showed a prior injury of long standing. Mr Hunt: Did that have anything to do with Johns’ death?—lt may have. Superintendent Till of the Auckland Police, said he watched the contest. At no time during the bout did he see anything which might have caused the police to stop the contest. It was a clean and well fought contest and there was no excessive punishment. It was conducted in the very best spirit by both men. Kenneth Arthur Meale who was referee described the 14th round. The contest had only been resumed a minute and both men were “mixing it” freely when Hughes connected with a heavy left rip to the pit of Johns’ stomach. As a natural result Johns threw his head back and opened his mouth. At this moment Hughes brought over a heavy right-hand punch to the jaw, as a result of which Johns went down on his knees. He made no attempt to rise and he was accordingly counted out. Witness though Johns was quite unconscious of what was going on. Dr. Craven, Medical Superintendent of the Auckland hospital staff, gave his opinon that the contest was perfectly fair. After reading the post mortem report, witness had formed the opinion that Johns had been in a precarious condition and a slight accident might have proved fatal. In his opinion the former accident had contributed to the cause of death.

“Accidents will happen,” commented the Coroner in returning a verdict that death was due to a cerebral haemorrhage received as a result of misadventure.