The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-11-18
The Star PugiIist Arraigned on the
Charge of Manslaughter In First De-
gree, but Released ON $4,000 Bail.
RESULT OF THE AUTOPSY
DEATH DIRECTLY DUE TO HEMOR-
RHAGE IN THE CRANIAL CAVITY.
Fitzsimmons's Account of the Fatal
BOut-views of Corbett, Sullivan
and other Neted Pugilists.

scious last night by FitZsimmons, the COM
ing opponent of champion Corbett. died at
the Candee House at $3.50 o'clock this morn
ing. At about 3 o'clock he was in the same
state Of Inconsistencies which he had been
all evening" when his laborious breathing
and nervous twitching of the muscles OF
his face and body warned the physicians
that his death was approaching. AT 3:l5
his breath had almost entirely stopped, and
at $3.50 DR.. NJ. II. Totman pronounced him
lifeless. At his bedside at the time of his
death were three physicians and about
twenty members of the local sporting fra
ternity. Fitzsimmons when informed of
his death. was much affected, and burst
into sobs.
An autopsy was held on Riordan's body
the cause of death: "Hemorrhage within
the cranlal cavity. causing compression of
the BRAIN" Riordan was found to be in
perfect health. DR.. Totman, who conducted
the autopsy, says that Riordan must have
been struck a terrific blow on the chin,
which communicated direct with the base
of the brain. The depression on the right
side of the brain was very deep and re-
mained for half an hour after the clot was
removed.
Fltzsimmons was arraigned in Police
Court at IL o'clock on the charge of man
slaughter in the first degree. He pleaded
not guilty When Fitzsimmons appeared
before Judge Northrup for bail it was dis
covered that his attorney had failed to
waive examination in his behalf This
formality necessary before he could be
released. and he was locked in the court
house cells until the police justice could be
found. At 3:i5 o'clock the errors in the ar
raignment were corrected and bail was
fixed at $4,000. Yank Sullivan and Charles
Gang signed the bail bond and Fitzsim-
mons was released.
FITZSIMMONS TALKS.
Fitzsimmons was in custody when "Yank,
Sullivan brought the news of his sparring
partners death to the pugilist my God!
You don't mean TO tell me Connie is dead"
said the pugilist II cannot believe It. I
did not hit him hard enough to injure a
child"
Fitzsimmons was completely broken up
over the affair He did not Sleep at all last
night and refused to eat anything this
morning "You can have anything in the
world you want, Fitz. if you viii only ask
police station.
That's the way they all treat me; you're
very kind" was Bob's reply.
To reporter Fitzsimmons said: do you
suppose would strike my Sparring partner
ing hard. but did not know he was i'm such
condition. Invariably when / spared
with him he turned blue around the mouth,
and 1t was a sign for to let up.
never struck him hard. Last night / no.
ticed after the first exchange OF blows that
he was not right. The blow that I delv-
cred that caused the trouble was light as
/ could make it-merely slapping him with
the back of my hand. He fell down and
then rose and staggered around. put my
of fbe cfa
When he fell headlong l thought he was
taking, and was thoroughly disgusted be-
was fake Kissed me. 1 was never Kissed
before. began to comprehend in few
minutes later that something was wrong
with my sparring partner, and / was hor-
rif1ed to find him still unconscious 1 at
tributed this to his drunken condition, and
thought he would revive from the stupor
for eight years, and he was always hard
drsnker. Being in poor condition. presume
he had some heart difficulty that brought
on the disaster: ! am not fearful of my
position. Everybody in the opera house was
aware that the blows which 1 struck Rior-
dan were light as / could possibly make
them. Naturally it makes my blood run
cold when / think of the condition of my
friend, not because 1 have any fear of the
results to me, but do not want that mans
death laid at my door,"
In another interview, tonight Fitzsim-
mons said: II feel at this moment as If
would not care if never put on a glove
again. ind you. do not say that what
did had anything to do with poor Riordan' $
death, for know it had not. At the same
time this affair will have nothing to do
with my meeting Corbett., 1 shall meet
that that 1 would have hit Con to hurt m him. lin.
salary to spar with me, and If l hit him
we went on with our act Riordan said to
me: Go easy bit tonight, Bob, / am
not feeling WELL. We got together and,
va" Would pes Counter and and mia I things up T ttie
stepea a back as he d h ans and ana nd his
effort seemed to jar him. Then we came
together again. and he asked Captain Glori
to call time, and l saw that he was Shaky,
and pretty soon he settled down upon his
knees and put his hands behind him upon
what va was was the matter. and he looked up and and
smiled and settled down again. and he
smiled second time; then l tried to pick
over oven f Rordan ord s5 TSey helped him on the
stage. and 1 went on with Dunfee. 1 see
that the newspapers say that Riordan was
This is not SO. He was assisted to a chair
In the wings, and said to. one Of the at
for this business any more. One of the
men started little later to take off his
gt'sas 60 on for S' another % round It was ali over
in thirty seconds. and l shall never think
that / am in any way responsible for
my power to bring the poor fellow back.
His is a case of too much liquor. Only the
other day he receiyed from Billy Madden,
Of Buffalo. letter. in whicn the latter said
sparring partner, had retired from the ring
forever, knocked out by drink, and that he
had heard that he was drinking very hard.
and asked him to take warning by DAILY
fate. We will give poor Con good funer-
al. and do all we can to show that we feel
his death deeply.
Captain Glori, Fitzsimmonss manager
| said 'Rlordan has been drinking heavily
for months. / advised him several days age
| he promised he would, and had started ou
ing of the feet. He was accustomed tc
fortify himself with whisky before his per.
formance each evening, and last night prob
ably took an extra large amount, as he fell
| vinced that had we known more of his con.
dtion we would never have let him go or
the stage.
THE FATAL BOUT.
The bout which resulted fatally to Rior
dan was lively one. In fact, Fltzsimmon:
| is such a qXck boxer and hard hitter tha
| his opponent never has an easy time. The
| idea in sparrirg bout is TO interest the
| audience without making il fight. Ts
| make a boat bear a close resemblance TO q
| fight. however. the star not Always deals
| gently with his opponent. Every man ir
| the house was positive last night that F1tz
| simmons's 81 blow landed on the jaw. and tha
! Riordau dfopped forward on his face-ths