Button Takes Crown; Richards Places Fifth

Harvard's Dick Button clinched his fifth straight world figure skating championship last night in Paris. Thirteen thousand fans cheered wildly as he went through a flawless performance. Dudley Richards, a sophomore of Boston and Eliot House, came in fifth--only .7 of a point behind the fourth place winner.

After finishing his performance, he Judges gave Button a mark very near the perfect 6 with seven credits of 5.9, six of 5.8 and one of 5.7. gave Mrs. Gus Lussi, wife of his trainer, a big kiss and remarked, "It was a cinch." He had been worried about his wind before the show as he had not skated a full program since arriving in Paris.

Lussi said that he had never seen Button put on a better performance.

Yesterday, Button had already obtained a commanding lead over his nearest contender, Helmut Seibt of Austria, and was picked to clinch the title today.