Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-10
FlTZ-SHARKEY FIGHT
STORY OF HOW TT WAS "FIxED'
FOR THE SAILOR.
SENSATIONAL TESTIMONY.
"AusfrnIinn" billy Smith Tells of "a
Regular Conspiracy TO Rob .'Lanky
hob" of the Tcn-Thousand-Dol
Purse,

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, December o.
A large assemblage OF ring-folIowers and
men-about-town crowded Judge Sander
sons courtroom this morning. In expec-
tation of hearing sensational develop
merits regarding the manner in which the
Fitzsmmons- SharlSey prize-fght was
fixed" and they were not disappoint-
ed. If credence IL to be placed I'm the
story told on the witncss-stand by Aus
tralian" Billy Smith. Sharkey's trainer
Fitzsimmons was defeated man before
he left New York. According to Smiths
Danny Lynch. Sharkey's manager, and
Sharkcy himself were the men who com
posed the National Athletic Club, before
whom the fight was fought These men,
he asseverates, engaged Wyatt carp as
referee with the understanding that he
was TO award Sharkey the fight directly
Fitzsimmons landed a body-blow or
stomach-punch. which might be stretched
into foul. carp was to receive S2'o"
for his services.
Smiths story is I'm substance az fol-
10 train Sharkey at the Ocean-Beach
Hotel. George Allen and Danny Need
ham assisting lie had frequent con-
versations with Sharkey about his pros
pective contest with Fitzsimmons.
Three weeks prior TO the fight Sharkey
requested Smith to suggest good re-
fierce. Smith named Hiram Cook. and
Lynch promised TO call on that gentle
man. 4 few days later Lynch informed
Smith that Cook was not suitable re-
fierce Smith was then advised by
Sharkey Of the fact that he (Sharkey)
and Lynch had an interest in the Ma
tional Club. Sharkey stated that Lynch.
Groom. and Gibbs were all broke" and
that he himself was Obliged to put up
81 700 10 guarantee his appearance In the
ring. leaving him almost broke. Lynch
and he were each 10 receive - per cent.
of the gate receipts after the expenses
and purse-money had been deducted.
Ten DAYS before the fight Sharkoy men
toned TO Smith that Lynch had succeed
ed in engaging one Wyatt carp. horse
owner. to act as referee. carp had
agreed TO give the fight to Sharkey on
foul the first time Fitzsimmons hit MIN
body-blow at close quarters. and. IN con-
sideration Of his decision, the referee was
TO be paid $500.
EVERY lilNh lNt-Ds
On the morning before the fight SharKey
again assured Smith that everything was
"dxed" satisfactorily for Sharkey 10 WIN
After describing his movements in the
ring before the call of time. Smith con
timed. 'Sharkey was dazed at the enu
Of The second round. and was practically
defeated then. | did not see the Knock
out blow. After Sharkey had been knock
ed out. Lynch whispered to him: 'Pretehu
10 he in great pain. and II VIII be all
TIGHT We carried Sharkey to his dress
ing-room and put him on cot Lynch
refused to allow anybody in the room
Sharkey kept holding his hands TO MS
head. and complaining Of his sore ear
and law. but said nothing about his groih.
/ started to remove his trunks, but Lynch
stopped me. We then carried Sharkey 10
a hack. and removed him 70 his Motel.
Allen. Lynch, Needham. and myself laid
him out on bed. / took off his shoes
and trousers and Allen removed ms
trunks. He made no complaint except
regarding his head and ear, and ! saw
no evidence Of discolOratiOn about the
groin. few moments later we heart
Sharkey screaming. and Allen remarked;
1 don't like the looks of this. | am going
away
AFTER waiting fifteen minutes they let
found Tom all bandaged up. a bottle OF
iodide of potassium stood on the wash
stand. DO not know what it was used
for. but it could hardly have been applied
10 his sore ear. Lynch then told me i
could 20 for the night. as he had en-
gagged a man TO sit up with Sharkey.
"'The following evening / called on
Sharkey, and found the swelling on his
groin very apparent, but he did not COM
plain OF suffering any pain In that re-
gion. His ear troubled him, however.
lie asked me what kind of a fight he had
nut up. and told him pretty good one.
He said that FitZsimmons could whip
Corbett in two rounds. He hits like
mule continued Sharkey, and CorDett
would not last any time with him
'sharkey told me ! could sleep with
him that night / offered to put hot
bandages on him, but he told me they
were not necessary. Before going 10
sleep he jumped out Of bed, lit cigar
and walked around the room. Re as
sured me that he was al right, except
ing his sore ear"
SMITHS STORY UNSHAKEN.
on cross-examination Smith stuck to
his story. and his evidence was not
shaken He also disclosed the fact that
Dr. Lee was not summoned 10 Sharkey's
DGdSlue uUlll TWO nuns anu a man "AtNt
the fight was over.
Lynch. Groom, and Gibbs denounce
Smiths testimony as rank perjury
The. claim that Smith demanded N.cD
for his services as trainer, and declined
TO accent the 500 rendered him. Allen,
who promised 10 corroborate Smiths
testimony. was offered 800. but attempt
ed TO blackmail Sharkey and Lynch into
paying him double that amount.
Lynch asserts that Allen and Smith,
finding that their attempt at extorton
would be futile, went TO Fitz. and Of
fered to make certain disclosures con-
corning alleged jobbery which can
easily be disproved. Colonel Kowalski,
Fitzsimmons's counsel. AYERS that he has
enough testimony to convict the entire
Sharlxey following of gross conspiracy
and fraud.
Smiths testimony has created tre-
mendous sensation among the sporting
fraternity.