The sun., 1896-12-10
SAYSFITZ WAS DEFRAUDED
BILLT SMITH, sHARKEY'S SECOND,
GIVES sTARTLIN0 TESTIMONY.
Ho Declares In Court That the Fight Was
Fixed and That the Referee Was 20 Re
csive $4,000 for DisauniIrying FitE
on m Foul-SmIth Is Accused OF Perjury.


Fixed and That the Referee Was 20 Re
ceivo $4,000 FOR DisquailryinE FitE
on n Foui-Smith Is Accused OF PERJURY.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. GA large assem- blago
of ring followers and men about town crowded
Judge Sanderson's court room this morn
ing in expectation OF hearing sensational
developments regarding the manner in which
tho Fitzsimmons-Sharkey prizo fight was
fixed" and they were not disappointed. II
crcdence II to be placed in the story told on the
witness stand by Australian" Billy Smith.
Sharkey's trainer. Fitzsimmons was defeated
man before he left New York. According to
Smiths testimony ]. j. Groom, j. II. Gibbs,
Danny Lynch. Sharkey's manager. and Sharkey
himself were the men who composed the Ma
tional Athletic Club. before which organization
the now notorious contest was fought.
These four men. Smith swears. engaged Wyatt
carp as referee. with tho understanding that he
was to award sharkey the fight directly
Fitzsmmons landed body blow or stomach
punch which might be stretched into foul
Earn was to receive $4,000 for his services.
Smiths story Is in substance as follows:
Five weeks ago he was employed to train
Sharkey at the Ocean Beach Hotel George Allen
and Danny Needhsm assisting.
He had frequent conversations with Sharkey
about his prospective contest with Fitzsimnons.
Three weeks prior to the fight Sharkey re-
quested Smith to suggest good referee.
Smith named Hiram Cook, and Lynch prom
ised to call on that gentleman. A few days
later Lynch informed Smith that Cook was
not a suitable referee. Smith was then
advised by sharkey OF the fact that he tshar-
key) and Lynch had an interest in the
National Club. Sharkey stated that Lynch.
Groom. and Gibbs were all broke and
that he himself was Obliged to put
up $4,000 to guarantee his appearance
in the ring. leaving him almost broke. Lynch
and he were each to receive twenty per cent. OF
the gate receipts after the expenses and purse
money had been deducted.
Ten days before tho fight Sharkey mentioned
TO Smith that Lynch had succeeded in engaging
one Wyatt carp. a horse owner, to act as referee.
carp had agreed to givo the fight to
Sharkey on foul the first time Ftzsirnmons
hit him q body blow at close quarters. and in
con nsideration of his decision the referee was to
be paid $4,000. On the morning before the
fight, Sharkey again assured Smith that everv-
thing was fixed" satisfactorily for ShRrkey to
win. After describing his movements In the
"Sharkey was dazed at the end Of the second
round, and was practically defeated then.
After @'d sAfey aGs see FELL Af lynch wlisperod 0S 70
him: T., Pretend 10 To- be ,.,,n IN W great pain pain
spd to viii n h G
cot. Lynch refused 10 allow anybody, in the
room sharkey kept holding hi. hands to his
sSs ,s s'is Ssh ,9sSSs @ @
ssopD'hS so hack s and s Sim s 10 his hets
Allen. Lynch. Needham. and myself laid
sboes n% out and on and GSn fsmorsd
his trunks. He made no complaint excert re-
hs e sron
Hsn' Aen remarked: @ don't Ike the looks OF this
After waiting fifteen minutes Lynch let me
into sharkey's room again and found Tom oil
f11sd sns 0; on sss, sssskss s and and
that thai + Fitzsimmons could whip Corbett in two
rounds He hits like mule continued
sharkey. and Corbe,t would not last any time
"sharkey told me could sleep with him that
| night. offered to put hot bandnGes on him. but
| he told me they were not necessary. Pcfore
going to sleep he Jumped ont OF bed.
| Iii n cigar and walked around the room. He
sore ear"
On ncross-examination Smith stuck to his story
and could not be shaken. He also disclosed the
fact that DR. Lee was not summoned to Shar-
| Keys bedside until two hours and half after
Lynch Groom, and Gibbs denounce Smiths
testimony as rank perjury: They claim that
Smith demanded $1,000 for his services as
trainer and declined TO accept S4O0 rendered
him,
Allen. who promised to corroborate Smiths
testimony tomorrow. was offered 5000, but at
tempted to blackmall Sharkey and Lynch into
paying him double that amount.
Lynch asserts that Allen and Smith. finding
that their attempt at extortlon would be futile,
went to Fitzsimmons's attorneys and offered to
make certain disclosures concerning alleged
jobbery which can easily be disproved
Fitzsimmons's counsel AYERS that he has
enough testimony to convict the entire Sharkey
following OF gross conspiracy and fraud.
Smiths testimony has created n tremendous
sensation among the sporting fraternity.