The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-10
CONSPIRACY SURE ENOUGH.
One of Sharkey's Trainers Makes a
Confession.

per publishes the following:
George Allen, one Of the men who
trained Tom Sharkey for his fight with
Bob Fitzsimmons, has made Il confession
to the effect that Fitzsimmons was de-
prived of his victory through II conspir-
acy. The trainer and the Sharkey man
agement have quarrcled over money mat
tiers, it is said, and in the heat of the
moment Allen made threats of what he
would do if he was not paid for his SER
vices.
Attorney Kowalsky, representing Fitz-
simm ons, heard of the circums stances, and
he employed Il private detective to gather
III the iratc trainer He was run to the
ground yesterday and induced to tell the
whole story.
1t is claimed that Allen, in an affidavit,
named Wyatt carp Dan j. Lynch, Tom
Shnrkcy and Dan Necdham as the prime
movers in the plot. The whole scheme
is said tc have been Matched ut Sharkey's
trinin" quarters at Ocean Beach
1t was arranged that Sharkey was to
make ii appear that he had been fouled at
some point in the contest when he was in
danger of losing from Fitzsimmon's
blows, and further, that the signal was
to he given by Sharkcy, who was to bend
over and place his hand on his groin ami
ut that moment Needham was to jump
into the ring and claim foul. Then the
referee was To give decision in favor of
Sharkev
San Francisco Dec ,9.-The legal con-.
test between Sharkey and Fitzsimmons
for the possession of the $4,000 purse
has commenced before the supreme
court. Excitement was int when the
proceedings began in the crowded court
room to-day and Manager Julian brought
ic wit 81.
which he stated had deprived FitZsim-
mons of the purse.
Australian Billy" Smith, one of
Shnrkey's trainers, was the first witness.
He detailed his work in connection with
preparing Sharkcy for the ring, and said
when the question of selecting n referee
was mentioned in Sharkey's training
quarters he was asked to suggest n
referee. Witness suggested Hiram
Cook, and said Lynch then asked him if
he knew Cook we'll enough ''to talk bus
mess with him.
Afterwards the witness said Cook was
mo good, - because he would not favor
his own brother in fight On the even
that carp had been fixed rs referee and
that "Earp was all right" Witness de-
scribed the uproar over the prelimina-
res 10 the fight and said when Fitzsim-
mons objected to the bandages on
Sharkey's hand carp went over 80
Sharkey's corner and said: '.Take Off
those CLOTHES; it will be all right any
way"
Witness said when Sharkey received
the knockout blow on the Jaw in the
eighth round Lynch said to Sharkcy:
Lie low, hold your hands on your groin
and pretend to faint with pain"
Sharkey was then carried from the room.
lie did not appear 10 be hurt Witness
said Allen, another trainer, ''removed
Sharkey's bandages and did the work
which caused the swelling. Sharkey was
then driven to his hotel in IL hack. Allen
was with him. Sharkey was Ill right
George Allen, another of Sharkey's
trainers, corroborated the story of the
previous witness, adding that several
physicians were refused admittnnce
while Sharkey was undergoing the opera
ton with which Allen produced the evil
dence of n foul. Lynch said nc doctor
should come into the room and interfere
with his plans. Witness said Sharkey
told him the National Athletic Club was
composed of Groom, Gibbs, Lynch and
Sharkey, and that Sharkey was to receive
twenty per cent. of the proceeds of the
iiBht alter the purse was deducted
Sharkey said his three partners in the
National Club were broke and Sbnrkrv
had had to advance 81, 500 for preliminary
expenses, which had left the sailor
pugilist stranded financially. Witness
said few days before the fight Sharkev
told him he thought carp would he the
right Kind of n referee for him and added
that 1t would he worth 50, 800 to Earn if
he proved to be the proper kind of u
referee