riot" when elements of the crowd broke into the ring. The referee gave the decision to Morrissey, although it was not clear at the time why he made his verdict. One report said that it was because Sullivan had struck Morrissey with a "foul blow", another stated it was because of a "foul blow" and "not coming to time", whilst another stated that it was because Sullivan had stepped out of the ring before the referee had given his decision. The fight had lasted 55 minutes. Morrissey did not escape legal retribution for the fight, however, as the Grand Jury of Berkshire County prepared a bill against him. When he surrendered to the court, he was fined $1,200. Murder of Bill Poole Morrissey became involved in Democratic politics in New York City and developed a rivalry with William Poole, also known as "Bill the Butcher". Poole was leader of the rival Bowery Boys, who were enforcers for the Know-Nothing Party, and a boxer. On August 8, 1854, a fight was arranged between Poole and Morrissey at the corner of "West and Amos-street". According to a newspaper report, after some sparring, Poole threw Morrissey to the ground and was on top of him in an instant "pounding, gouging, bucking and biting", forcing Morrissey to concede the fight to Poole. In February 1855, two of Morrissey's friends, Lew Baker and Jim Turner, shot and fatally wounded Bill the Butcher at Stanwix Hall, a saloon on Broadway. Morrissey and Baker were indicted for the murder, but the charges were dropped after three trials resulting in hung juries. Final prizefight Morrissey had apparently retired from prizefighting and had returned to Troy, New York. However, the appearance of fellow Troy, New York native John C. Heenan in New York in the fall of 1857 brought about his return to the ring. Heenan, who had been in California, had earned the reputation of being a formidable fighting man among the followers of boxing. In December 1857, Heenan appeared before a New York audience as part of a sparring exhibition. In July 1858, a prizefight was arranged between Morrissey and Heenan, set for October 20, 1858, with the venue of the fight being specified as in Canada. The fight took place on the island of Long Point, Ontario. In the days before the fight, Heenan had been troubled with a sore in his leg which interrupted his