The record-union., 1896-12-16
SHARKEY ON THE STAND.
DENIES TELLING SMITH carp
WOULD BE ALL RIGHT.
Also That He Had Any Interest in the
National Athletic Club or Ever
Loaned 1t Any Money.

| SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 15.-Thomas
! Sharkey testified in his own behalf to-
day in FitzSimmonS' suit for possession
of that $4,000 check. and his denial of
the charges of crookedness were prompt
and vigorous. The proceedings opened
with Manager Lynch on the stand for
further SS-eXaminatiOn, but Attor
| ney Kowalsky was unable to bring out
any damaging admissions, and Lynch
soon gave way to the sailor, who form
ally identified the articles of agree
ment signed by himself and FitZsim-
mons, and then General Barnes ques-
toned him along the lines of Trainer
Smiths testimony.
Sharkey denied having any interest
whatever in the National Athletic Club,
or that he had advanced that organiza
tion $500, or any other sum. The first
he heard of carp was when he saw his
name in the papers before he went to
Sausalito to see F'itzsimmons. He did
not tell Smith that if he (Sharkey) could
get carp for referee he would be all
right, or that there would be good
money in it for the right referee. Nor
did he ever state that he would refuse
to agree to any referee in advance, and
the club would then name any man he
would suggest. The sailor was posi-
tive he had never talked to Lynch or
any body else about carp He went into
the ring with no thought but to win in a
fair fight.
Sharkey being asked how the last
blows were struck, replied:
"FitZsimmons struck me a jab in the
mouth with his left hand. Then he
feinted with his left and swung his right
across my head. / jumped back and
then forward again, and he gave me the
roxe in the groin" Sharkey denied
that he had entered into an agreement
with Lynch to do anything to get the
fight, or had he anything to do with the
selection of a referee.
Danny Needham, Sharkeys trainer.
was called to the witness stand His
story in general was a denial Of what
Smith and Allen had said about ref
cree and about the suspicious circum-
stance in the dressing room and in
Sharkey's room in the hotel.
William Greer Harrison explained the
difference between a prize fight and a
glove contest. The former he said was
a brutal contest, while the latter was
altogether matter of skill Harrison
saw the Sharkey- -Fitzsimmons contest
and saw no foul.
l.. r. Fulda, formerly President of the
California Athletic Club, agreed with
Harrison as to the distinction between a
glove contest and prize fight He was
not at the Sharkey- -FitZsimmons con-
test. He said the referees decision was
final.
Referee Wyatt carp was then called
He testified that he was in the Baldwin
Hotel about / o'clock the afternoon of
the fight when he was first asked to
referee the fight by Groom, Gibbs and
some one else He did not know Lynch
except to speak to him, and had not
spoken to him half a dozen times in his
life. Earp's description of the eighth
round was, in his own language as fol-
lows .Fitzsimmons drove Sharkey to
his corner and struck him a blow on the
breast. Sharkey came, and Fitzsinl-
mons tried to uppercut him. and struck
him on the groin. AS he went back ne
uppercut him on the chin. He did NOT
fall backwards. but went down onto his
knees, and placed his hands on the