HAPPY AGAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 840, 7 December 1929, Page 36

HAPPY AGAIN

Billy Murphy Gets 150 Dollar Present AMERICAN’S GENEROSITY When Billy Murphy, famous • New Zealand boxer, smashed his way to the light-weight championship of the world by knocking out Ike Weir at San Francisc'o in 1889, one of the thousands who cheered him to victory was James W. Coffroth. This week, Janies W. Coffroth. now a millionaire, arrived at Auckland on the Malolo, and met Billy Murphy again. The years had passed since Billy made his triumphant visit to the States. In the meantime, Coffroth had built up a reputation as a boxing promoter, second only to that of the late Tex Rickard. He had given his name to the Coffroth Handicap, as president of the Tia Juana Jockey Club —the world’s richest horse race. Billy, along with Mr. Janies Gleeson. the well-known Auckland racing man, visited Mr. Coffrotli on the Malolo on Tuesday. As the famous old-time boxer was leaving the vessel, Coffrotli slipped a 100-dollar bill into his hands and Mr. Gleeson presented him with a £lO note. Thus the world took on a new aspect for Billy. Light of step, erect, and smiling, he called at The Sun office yesterday with the news of his good fortune. He proudly displayed a gold watch and chain which the generositv of the American tourist had enabled him to redeem from a City pawn-shop, where it had rested for 13 months or more. Billy was making a tour of the city, paying sundry debts which he had incurred since his clothes pressing business began to fall away. He recalled again that fight of fights, and also of three other champions he knocked out during the tour. He lived again for a few brief moments In the past as he displayed the marks of a broken left arm and right banc! — injuries which befel him, both in one match, but did not prevent him from fighting to the finish of a drawn contest.