The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-16

him.
The witness explained that he made
Lynch's acquaintance in Salt Lake. AT
that time Sharkey was to box man
another. Needham had Lynch as his
manager and Sharkey requested Lynch to
look after his interests as well. Lynch
was to receive no compensation Tor ms
services. but he had the privilege OF see
ing Sharkey exercise while training, and
that was a very valuable privilege TO a
betting man.
Judge Sanderson remarked at this stage
of the proceedings that he had expected
that the counsel would have inquired into
the character OF the affair, as to whether
it was a prize-fght or merely friendly
boxing match. But the court did not
think that is was his affair, as he was sit
ting as an officer empowered to admins
ter oaths and TO take the dispositions
of witnesses. He did not know what a
knockout was, whether 1t was the receipt
of injuries sufficient to disable man from
continuing the fight, or whether it was a
particular kind OF blow. Judge Sander
son remarked that he was probably the
only man in the State who had never seen
prize-fght; at least he thought so since
he had heard the evidence.
Sharkey explained that a knockout was
when a man, after receiving a blow, was
and his definition produced a gasp OF
establishment from all who heard him.
He thought that blow on the jaw was
the surest way to knock out man.
William Greer Harrison was examined
as an expert on what constituted the diff
ference between prze-hght and glove
contest. He said that priZe-fght'wa a
brutal exhibition governed by only one or
two rules, while glove contest was gov
erned by a com plete set of rules. Strength
was the chief element OF prize-hgh ting,
while skill was the chief element in glove
fighting Custom had prescribed the use
OF five-ounce gloves.
Mr.. Barnes asked him whether there
were not fights TO finish under the Mar
quls of Queensberry rules, and Mr. Harri-
son replied that such thing happened.
A knockout was not serious affair. Cor
bett had knocked out the witness three
times in half-hour, "but there IS moth
ing in a knockout. The man goes to sleep
all over" replied Mr.. Harrison.
Every man to his taste, " remarked Mr..
Barnes.
Mr.. Harrison insisted that there was
nothing in q glove-tight analogous to a
prize-ight. The exercise of great strength
was allowed in prize-fights, but wrestling
was debarred in glove contests, The error
of judgment on the part of a referee would
be in falling to see foul, but he could not
very likely see foul if none existed. The
decision OF the referee was final, and there
was no appeal even when he made a mis-
take.
Sharkey- titZsim mons fight and was posi-
rive that no foul was committed by Fitz,
simmons.
He considered that bouts between ANA
teurs were more spirited and interesting
than those between professionals. 1t was
not uncom mon, IN cases where the contest
was very close, that half the spectators OBJ
jecteG to the ruling of the referee. The
cry of the audience at the Sharkey- Fitz-
simmons fight was against the decision OF
the referee. He heard or read the next
morning that General Barnes had said
that FItzsimmons had fouled Sharkey.
Lem Fulda, ex-president of the Cali
fornia Athletic Club, was called by Mr..
Kowalsky and explained that prize fights
were dangerous TO the contestants and
very often resulted in the death of one
or more Of the contestants"
The witness was not present at the fight
before the court, although he was in this
City at the time and was not sick. He
had made up his mind not to go, and he
did not 60. In most OF the contests be-
fore his club he had a provision inserted
in the articles to the effect that the de-
cision OF the referee should be satisfactory
to the board of directors in the case OF
amateurs.
Judge Sarderson asked whether fighters
in glove contests did not blacken one
another's eyes, break ribs. smash noses
and knock one another senseless.
Mr.. FuldA replied that such accidents
often happened.
land you call that a glove contestf''
asked Judge Sanderson sarcastically.
The crowd Uttered at this outcome of
the attempt to show that glove contests
were harmless sports.
Walter Watson, boxing instructor at the
Olympic Club, testified that he was die
tating the points OF the fight to a short
hand reporter Tor THE CALL. He saw the
finishing blows given and 3wore that Mr..
Fitzsimmons did not strike Sharkey foul
blow.
Wyatt carp was called and walked up to
the stand ont OF the iury-box with tent
pole protruding just below the back but
tons OF his coat He said that h. was
chosen as referee by Messrs. Gibbs and
Groom at 1 O'Clock on the afternoon of the
hsht. No one had spoken to him about
the matter previous TO that hour. He was
butvery slightly acquain ted with Lynch,
and had not spoken to Lynch more than
five words at any one time.
THAT man over there, continued carp,
Julian, l believe they call him, protested
knew my business, and l knew that /
had right to allow Sharkey to wear the
bandages. Then. when Julian protested
again, went over to Sharkey and told
him to take off them bandages.'
Did you tell Sharkey to take off the
bandages-that it was all right, anyhow p
was asked.
mo, sir" replied carp, II don't deal
with them kind of people in that way; /
deal with them in different kind of way.
l said, You take them bandages off |
done it in a way that Sharkey understood
what I said. 1 don't plead with them
kind of people,"
The witness then described the finishing
blows. He saw Fitzsimmons strike Shar-
key in the groin and Sharkey double up
and groan with pain. Then he decided
that Skarkey had won on a foul.
He met Fitzsimmons four or five wears
ago on Geary street in this City, in sa-