"My last game of billiards was at a public house in Liverpool. In the middle of the game, when taking an ordinary shot, one of the balls split in two. I jumped back, my cue hitting the gas lighting bracket, pulling the whole lot down, the incandescent mantles setting the cloth on fire in three places, and the place being cast into complete darkness. The gas was escaping and my opponent rushed out and called the fire brigade. I found the cellar man and asked him to cut off the gas supply for the whole building. On returning I found the two cardboard shades ablaze. The proprietor who, I understand, was an ex-prize fighter then came in and accused me of deliberately setting fire to his premises, and without further argument knocked me out. The next thing I remembered was seeing several firemen and a policeman taking notes."