William Poole - Dispute With John Morrissey

Dispute With John Morrissey

Poole's archenemy, John Morrissey, was an Irish immigrant and enforcer for Tammany Hall. Morrissey was also a popular boxer and challenged Poole to a match. Though the two men were of differing ethnic backgrounds and political parties, the initial grounds for their dispute may have arisen from an earlier bet by Poole on a boxing match. Poole placed his bet on Morrissey's opponent, "Yankee Sullivan". The fight took place at Boston Corners on October 12, 1853.

Results of the boxing match were disputed, and Poole was against Morrissey being paid. In the boxing match Morrissey was knocked out but, instead of using a standard ten count, the Morrissey backers requested judgment by a call to the ring. Morissey was up again by then. Morrissey's opponent, having knocked out Morrissey, had left the vicinity of the ring thinking he had won. Poole and Morrissey squared off in the ring to settle their dispute on July 26, 1854, at Amos Dock, New York. The New York Daily Times reported the story on July 28, 1854:

Subjoined we give an account of the brutal affair, furnished by a person who witnessed it. He says: "Yesterday morning, about 7 o'clock, an encounter took place between John Morrissey and William Poole on the pier at the foot of Amos Street, North River. For some time past Morrissey has entertained the idea of attaining the unenviable notoriety attached to a fighting man. He has frequently challenged Hyer to meet him in the ring and settle their animosities by a fisticuffs battle...View Full Article at Wikisource