by Peter Rogers
Earlier this year, we featured an article about a fatal boxing match in Merthyr (http://www.merthyr-history.com/?p=1874). Local boxing historian Peter Rogers has kindly provided me with more information about Thomas Beynon.
The first part is based on a report that appeared in the Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian dated 4 April 1868.
Thomas Beynon, a middle-aged man, was charged with the manslaughter of Rowland Thomas, a young man of 23. They fought bare-knuckle for two and a half hours, and 70 rounds were fought. The purse was a pound a side and a sovereign.
They fought with utmost determination at a well known resort of pugilists called the Giant’s Grave, midway between Merthyr and Aberdare. At the end of the 70th round, Rowland Thomas could not come up to time, in fact he was in such a state that the most apprehensions were felt, and Beynon made off but was soon captured and taken to the police station. Aid was immediately obtained for Rowland Thomas, but after lingering for a few hours, he died. The principal or immediate cause of death being a ruptured blood vessel, by some attributed to a backward fall which the deceased had at one portion of the fight.
Beynon, the victor, had very little cause for rejoicing. He was so punished that he had to be carried to the police station. Both parties were colliers, and strong of make, and is said were related to one another. A gentleman resident of the locality says no science was displayed by either. It was simply a pounding match, and no other result could well have been anticipated. Beynon was liberated on bail.
Eight days later, Thomas Beynon entered into a prize-fight with Jonathan Muzzy for a certain sum. They accordingly met and for a space of two hours were engaged in combat, during which time they fought 75 rounds.
The Merthyr Express reported the incident on 11 April 1868, as did the Brecon County Times (as shown in the blog entry quoted above and reproduced here).
Thomas Beynon was brought before Swansea Assizes and charged with the manslaughter of Jonathan Muzzy on 30 March 1868 and remanded. On 20 July 1868, Thomas Beynon was imprisoned at Cardiff Gaol for 36 months.
The details of his imprisonment were taken from ‘Cardiff Gaol, Glamorganshire: Calendar of Trials at Assizes and Quarter Sessions for the County of Glamorgan. England 1770-1935’.
Many thanks to Anthony Rhys for allowing me to use his excellent painting of Thomas Beynon. To see more of Anthony Rhys’ work, visit his website: http://www.anthonyrhys.com/