The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-10
THE FIGHT WAS FINED"
IF CREDENCE CAN Re GIVEN TO
THE TESTIMONY or SMfTH.
His statement as to How sharkey Appear
ed After the Contest-The sailors
Hackers Call Him a Perjurer.

SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. "a large as
semblaee Of ring followers and men
about town crowded Judge Sanderson's
courtroom this morning in expectation
Of hearing sensational developments re-
garding the manner in which the Fltz-
simmons-Sharkey fight was fixed" and
they were not disappointed. II credence
IS 10 be placed in the story told on the
witness stand by Australian Billy
Smith. Sharkeys trainer, Fitzslmmons
was a defeated man before he left New
York According to Smiths testimony
j. J. Groom. J. II. Gibbs, Danny Lynch
Sharkoy's manager. and Sharkey himself
were the men who composed the N-ional
Athletic club. before whom the notorious
contest was fought. These men, he swcdls'
engaged Wyatt carp as referee. with the
understanding that he was 20 award Shdr-
key the hight, directly fitzsimmOns land-
ed n body blow or stomach punch,
might bc stretched into foul carp was
to receive $500 for his serN ices.
SMITHS STORY.
Smiths story is, IN substance, as fol-
lows.
Five weeks ago he was employed TO
train Sharkey at the Ocean Beach Hotel,
George Allen and Danny .ecdhom as
with Sharkey about his prospective con-
test with Fitzslmmons. Three weeks
prior 10 the fight, Sharkey requested
Smith TO suggest a good referee. smith
named Hiram Cook, and Lynch prom
iscd 10 call on that gentleman. lew
days later, Lynch informed Smith that
Cook Was not "a suitable referee. Smlih
was then advised by Sharkey of tho fact
that he (Sharkey) and Lynch had an
interest In the National Club. Sharkey
stated that Lynch. Groom ana Hippa
We're all broke and that he himscl VIZ
obliged 20 put mp 81, aOy 10 guarantee ms
appearance IN the ring. leaving nm al
most broke. Lynch and ho were c"ch
to receive % per cent OF the gate Ie-
ceipts after the expenses ana purse mo
ney had been deducted. Ten days be-
fore the fight Sharkey mentioned u"
Smith that Lynch had succeeded IN en-
gazing one Wyatt carp. "A horse owner,
TO act as referee. carp had agreed 10
give the fight 10 Sharkey on ioul the
first time Fitzsimmons hit him body
blow at close quarters, and in conside-
ration OF his decision the referee was
20 be paid $500. ON the morning bee
fore the fight. Sharkey again assured
Smith that everything was HAen sa'-
i-faetory for Sharhey 10 WIN. AlieI ur
scriImg his movements in the ring be-
fore the call of time. Smith continued.
PRETEND TO BE ~ PAIN
"sharkoy was dazed AZ the end Of no
second round and was practically ucIeaicl
then. I did not SEQ the Knockout dow.
After Sharkey fell Lynch whispered %
Pretend to 10 IN great pain and it
Two carried sharkey to his dressing
room and put him on "a cot
Lynch refused 10 allow anybody 90
the room. Sharkey kept holding his
lie To. fa hood fDTIulIfUfuH of NIa
sore ear and jaw. but said nothing about
his groin. / started 90 remove his trunks.
but Lynch stopped me. We then carried
Sharkcy 10 q hack and removed him ~
his hotel Allen Lynch Needham. and
myself laid him on a bed. l took OF
his shoes and trousers and Allen removed
his trunks He made no complaint eA
cept regarding his head and ear. ana !
saw no evidence Of discoloration about
the groin a few moments later We
heard Sharkey screaming and Allen re-
'''"' ~ IODINE IN THE ROOM
Il don't Ike the looks Of this. / am
going away.
After waiting fifteen minutes he let
me into Shai,ey's room again. ana
found Tom an bandaged up. bottle OF
iodine OF potassium stood on the wash
stand | do not know what ~ was used
for. but it could hardly 10 Pee peen Ap-
plied 10 his sore ear. LYNN then l"iu
mo T could go for the night. az me- n"l
engaged "A man to sit up with Sharkoy.
The following evening ] called on Snhi
key and found the swelling on MS Siol"
very apparent, but he did not complain
Of suffering any pain IN that region. li'.
ear troubled him. however. I've asked
me what kind Of a fight Dee had put up,
and I told him pretty good. iie said
that f'itzsimmons could whip Cofpell lh
two rounds.
"IIo hits like mule continued
Sharkey, and Corbctt would not i"7l
any time with him.
him that night ] offered 10 put not pane
dages on him. but Dc told me they were
not necessary Before going % sleep Ae
jumped out OF bed, llt cigar. ana walk.
cd around the room. Tie assured me ihi'
ho was aU right. excepting his sore ear.
on cross-cxaminauon Smith stuck I'd
his story and his evidence was npi
shaken. He also disclosed The TACT ihhl
Dr. Lee was not summoned 10 SnurheN
bedside until two hours and half after
the fight was over.
Lynch. Groom. and Gibbs denounced
Smiths testimony as rank perjury. They
claim that Smith demanded $1,000 Tor hi-
services as trainer. and declined 10 ace
cepf 500 rendered him. Allen. VINO prom
isad 20 COrrohOrato Smiths testimony W1'
offered 5000 but attempted 10 hlnckmAl
Sharkcy and Lynch into paying him dou'
be that amount Lynch asesrts that Al.
len and Smith. finding that their attempt
"a cxt0rti0n would be futile went tf
Fitz. and offered % make certain dis
closures concerning alleged robbery
which can easily Doe disproVcd
Kowll-h Fifz immOnf counsel, AYERS
that he has enough testimony 10 convict
the entire Shafkev following of gross
conspiracy and fraud.
Smiths testimony has created q tire
d..
fraternity.