Linlithgowshire Gazette - Saturday 18 December 1897 THE FATAL GLOVE FIGHT Mr Troutheck, the coroner for Westminister, opened on Saturday, at the St Clement's Danes Vestry Hall, the inquiry into the death of Walter J. Croot, who died after having been engaged in a boxin contest with James Barry at the National Sporting Club on Monday night last. Barry was present among others as having been concerned in the case of Croot's death. Mr Gill appearedfor the National Sporting Club and Barry. Isaac Croot, a fitter, of 68 Frith Road, Leytonstone, identified the deceased as his brother, who was twenty-three years of age, and a zinc worker. He lived at 68 Downsell Road Leytonstone. Witness was present on the 6th at the fight at the N.S.C. His brother was fighting a twenty round contest with James Barry. The fight took place in a proper ring. There was nothing done to the gloves after they were tied on, there was nothing pressed over the knuckles. There was a signed contract for the contest under the Queensbury rules. The fight was for £100, of which £80 was to go to the winner. Mr Frank Baker trained the deceased for a fortnight previous. It was a perfectly scientific fight for point. Witness was of opinion that his brother had most points. Ninteen rounds had been fought, but in the twentieth round he was "knocked out." About half-way through the last round he received one or two blows in the region of the heart. They were delivered hard with both hands one after the other. Cross examined by McGill—The witness said that in the 19th round his brother slipped on his knee, but instantly rose. When knocked down his brother's head cme in contact with the floor of the ring. Jeremiah Riley, spectator, bore out the last witness's evidence, and added that, in his opinion, it would have been impossible for Barry to have won except by knocking his opponent out. Evidence to a totally different effect, however, was given by the next witness, Sir George Chetwynt, who said that he considered Croot to have a slight advantage in the matter of points up to the 18th round, but that Barry subsequently pulled up, and, in his (witness's) opinion, would have been awarded the victory in the end, apart altogether from Croot having been knocked out. From this point of view of damage done, it was one of the feeblest exhibition spars he had ever seen, Sir Geo. Chetwynt added. Both men were so clever at dodging and parrying that they hit one another comparatively little. In his opiniion, it was not the body blows Croot received in the last round which injured him, but the blow he received on the back of his head when he fell. This view of the matter was supported by the evidence of the doctor who was called in to attend the injured man. From the post mortem examination he had made he had no doubt that the actual cause of death was a fractur about 1½ in. long which he had discovered. But whether this fracture had been caused by the contact with the ground itself when he fell, or by the blow on the point of the chin which knocked him down he could not say for certain. He thought it more likely, however, in view of the softness of the gloves used and lightness of the men—about 7st. 6Ib each—that it was the actual connection with the floor of the ring which caused the fracture, from which fracture deceased certainly died. Twelve out of the fourteen jury men agreed to the following verdict:—"The deceased, Walter Croot, met his death by an accident due to a fracture of the skull caused accidentally by a knock-out blow during a boxing contest. We further consider that there is no evidence to show that the accident occured by an attempt to knock out." The Foreman added—I think we are agreed that it is a perfectly innocent matter. The Jury—Yes. The Coroner—That is a verdoct of accidental death. The Foreman—Yes. The inquiry them at end.
I'm just going to edit the title, so I can have a Jimmy Barry thread Vs Jack Ward The sun., March 02, 1897, Page 4, Image 4 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...asetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=range&page=1
Interesting. The book I read on Barry is poor, doesn’t cite all that much and doesn’t really clear up which fights were ‘amateur’ or pro....just kinda’ stumbles along.
Well, going backwards from that date, confirmed bouts with decisions: Nov 14, 1892 W-PTS6 over Romeo Durand at McGurn's, it was a regular Monday bout for Harry Gilmore's gold medal, as advertised in Nov 8 Inter Ocean - "Durant and Barry have been matched to meet for the Gilmore medal next Monday night" Sep 7, 1891 W-PTS6 or W-NWS6 over young Mellington at McGurn's - same as above, per next-day Chicago Daily News - "a six-round contest at McGurn's court last night for the Gilmore medal" Jun 8, 1891 W-TKO4 over Shorty Cleveland at McGurn's - another Monday evening of sparring bouts. Apr 28, 1890 W-PTS4 or W-PTS5 over Al Schrosbee at the Casino Gymnasium, George Whitney's benefit; after decision in favor of Barry was rendered, Schrosbee "announced his readiness to make a match to fight it out in orthodox fashion", per Inter Ocean. So must have been an amateur bout for points. Feb 7, 1890 L-PTS3 to Al Schrosbee at Board of Trade gymnasium, per Chicago Daily News - "The athletic entertainment given in the board of trade gymnasium yesterday afternoon was one of the best exhibitions ever given by amateur athletes in this city".
Draw with Sammy Kelly The sun., January 31, 1897, Page 8, Image 8 http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lc...asetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=range&page=1 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle., January 31, 1897, Page 9, Image 9 http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lc...asetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=range&page=1
I think that he was a man born before his time. If there had been a flyweight division in his day then he might have been the greatest in that divisions history!
Looking into one of Barry's earlier opponents Bobby Quaid or Quade George Strong fought Bob Quade, on the condition that Strong KOed Quade in 10 rounds with 5 ounce gloves, but it was stopped by the police and both were arrested. From 12 Mar 1891 The Kansas City Gazette on page 9 Bob Quade is reported KOing Lee Guthrie in the 5th round in the 3rd June 1892 of The Weekly Record on page 2
Just thought I'd give this a cheeky bump due to the Patterson thread. Jimmy Barry, from what I've seen, was more often called a Bantamweight, but since that was also used to refer to fighters at a higher weight, he was also referred to as a Paperweight. I believe Johnny Coulon was also called this.
