“ADDS NO LUSTRE TO SPORT.”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18537, 7 April 1930, Page 9

“ADDS NO LUSTRE TO SPORT.”

Billiards Players In Court. ASSAULT CHARGES FAIL. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, April 4. Clark M’Conachy, summonsed by Willie Smith for using threats, was bound over till April 10, when he leaves England, and was ordered to pay costs. The summons against him for assault was dismissed. Mr Butlin, appearing on behalf of Smith, declared that M’Conachy complained on March 24 that the balls had not been washed. Smith pointed out that it was M’Conachy’s fault as he had arrived late. M’Conachy subsequently made other complaints about the table, and also declared that his ball was flawed and that he was playing under a disadvantage. The referee and manager examined the balls and decided that the complaint was unjustified. As M’Conachy insisted, Smith agreed to use the ball himself. Later the New Zealander alleged that the balls were not a neutral set and Smith agreed to go out and weigh them. The players and referee engaged a taxi, in which M’Conachy, in a vile temper, repeated his allegations. Smith replied: “It is a lie.” M’Conachy stood up threateningly and cried out: “I’ll knock your head off.” Smith shouted to the driver to stop, whereupon M’Conachy knocked him back in his seat.

“I’ll kill you before I leave Manchester,” shouted M’Conachy, and when the referee attempted to pacify him, he added: “Yes, and you as well.” M’Conachy’s counsel, Mr Rycroft, declared that M’Conachy simply leaned forward in the taxi and pushed Smith back in his seat. The words suggested as threats, if uttered, were only terms of abuse. Smith had acted childishly in calling the police. M’Conachy said that he had evidently put his hands on Smith’s chest. The referee caught his arm and, as there were two against him, he threatened to clean both up. He thought that the balls were the same weight, but differed in size, justifying his complaint. Mr Brittin (counsel for Smith), said M’Conachy’s suggestion that the balls were not neutral was tantamount to a charge against Smith, or the officials of dishonesty or trickery, as they always sealed up each session. When in the taxi M’Conachy repeated to Smith: “They are your own set.” In the course of the cross-examina-tion, M’Conachy denied that he had had a row with the ship’s captain coming from Australia. “It is very regrettable that such a case should be brought before the Court. It is a pity it was not settled privately, as such a dispute between two such eminent players does not add to the prestige of English sport,” said the Magistrate, dismissing Smith’s summons for assault.