The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-07
.'I'''.LONG GREEN" is SQU|RMING

light.
F'He was appointed at the instance OF Law
renee"
We wish to deny fatty and completely the
truth of these statements The tuil facts con-
corning the appointment OF carp are as lo1-
lows:
Mr.. carp was stranger to Mr. Gibbs ana
myself. We had met MIN but once prior 10 ms
appointment as referee and on the occasion OF
a visit TO Fitzsimmons' training quarters about
ten days before the contest, when we received
a formal introduction TO him.
The managers of the principals were argu.
ing TOR several days over the appointment oil
a referee and it became manifest as the DAY OF
the contest approached that they would make
no selection, that they could not agree upon
any one and Mr.. Gibbs and talked over the
matter, as it was important that we sho uld be
prepared at 12 o'clock. noon, OF December TO
name the referee in the event that the man.
ayers of the principals failed to DO so. In dis
cussing the matter Mr.. Gibbs stated that he
had in mind man who would give entlre sat
lslaction, as he was reported 10 De fearless,
cool and honest. II said that such man as
Andy Lawrence of the Examiner, Mr.. Bunker
OF the Report aud Mr.. Simpson OF the ChTonl-
Gle spoke IN terms OF praise OF him and we
could make mistake in selecting him. /
said, eff he is good enough Tor the press he Is
good enough for me-"
At IL O'CLOCK, noon, OF December Martin
Julian and Dan Lynch informed me that it
was impossible for them to agree on referee; /;
that they placed the matter In the hands OF
the National Athletic Club. Then they left.
This conversation occurred at my place of
HoseI.
Mr.. Gibbs arrived shortly afterward, and
told him that the duty of selecting a referee
had been turned over 10 us. He said, "How
about Wyatt Earp?" ana said, "He suits me-"
We then walked through the Baldwin Hotel
lobby to the bar. We saw Mr.. carp in con-
versation with friend l said to Gibbs:
"This is q strange coincidence. There is carp
sitting there" We called Mr.. Esrp to one
side and informed him that the National Ath-
letic Club had chosen him as referee OF the
LTS.z- ,,r,cE t-av TIa haci tad
moment and said "Well, consider it an honor,
and consent to serve"
l asked him if he understood the rules of the
game thoroughly, and he replied in the affir rm-
atiye. This is the full history of his selection.
At that time both Mr.. Gibbs and myself told
him that as the people weie giving high prices
to see the contest, we would not like to
have il cut off By technical foul All we de-
sired was TO give the principals and the public
q good, square deal
That is all there is to it. Mr. Lawrence had
absolutely nothing to do with the selection OF
carp.
The statement attributed by THE CALL as
coming from Mr.. Gibbs, said to be made on the
afternoon after the fight 10 q reporter of the
Examiner is as follows: what kick have you
got coming? Ie was st Andy Lawrence's sug-
gestion that Wyatt carp went in as referee" ;" is
absolutely untrue. Mr. Gibbs never made that
statement.
The statement is also made, Lawrence told
Gibbs that he understood the fighters were dis
agreeing as to the selection OF referee" This
Is not so. Mr.. Gibbs introduced the subject,
and spoke OF the difficulty that was being mad
in the selection OF Il referee.
Mr.. Lawrence did not say as reported in THE
CALL, II have got you man. Select Wyatt
carp. know he is as good man you can
get, and there will be no kicking against him."
THE CALL report says: THAT is true state
ment OF how we decided upon Wyatt carp as
referee"
That is an absolutely untrue statement as TO
how the selection of Mr.. carp as referee was
made. (Signed) J. ]. GROOM,
J. d. GIBBs
SIN Francisco, Dec. s. 1896.
The comm unication as published was |
q coepteo and few inquiries made as to
W by such a statement should be made in
direct contradiction of the interview given
by both Gibbs and Groom in the presence
of two reporters attached to different
newspapers.
did you not come here from the Ex-
aminer editorial rooms, gentlemen?" was
asked.
"Yes, sir" answered the commissioners.
1--WE came from Mr.. Lawrence to try and
straig hten this thing out.
I'VE want 10 have 1t understood that we
were the ones who appointed Mr.. carp.
1t would be derogatory TO our dignity 10
have it understo tood otherwise. The way
1t occurred was that such men as Mr..
Lawrence and Mr.. Simpson recommend ed
him as good man, and we selected him.
"Do you not know, gentlemen that Mr..
Simpson, the city editor of the Chronicle,
was thoroughly unacquainted with Mr..
carp, excepting that Lieutenant Esola of
the Police Department came to him some
days before the fight asking for ticket for
friend. Being asked who that friend was,
he stated it was Wyatt Earp?"
Both Gibbs and Groom suffered their
doubt about that point.
Now as to the details of the Groom,
Gibbs, carp. Esola, Lawrence and Mr.
Simpson nix up:
Lieutenant Esola asked Mr.. mpson for
pass TO the fight for Wyatt carp. Mr..
Simpson said he did not feel justified in
asking for pass or ticket from the Ma
tional Athletic Club. He said he was not
acquainted with Wyatt carp and was not
inclined to ask favors anyhow in such af-
fairs
Last night Mr.. Simps was not in his
Office, but Fred Stowell, his representa-
tive, stated positively that any claim made
by either J. J. Groom or ]. D. Gibbs that
Mr.. Simpson had in any way suggested,
iutimated or otherwise given an idea he
would be pleased to see Wyatt Earp taken
as referee in the FitZsimmons- Sharkey
fight was absolutely lie.
But, going back few days, the false
hoods told in the communication of Gibbs
and Groom are made more apparent.
The very day after the carp decision,
which robbed Fitzsimmons of the victory
justly due him, and at the time the public
was clamoring to know why Gibbs had
chosen carp as referee, two reporters-
Messrs. Sullivan and Scott-were to the
front and spoke to Mr.. Gibbs at the juno
tion of Market and Ellis streets. 1t was
in answer TO Mr.. Sullivan's inquiry that
Gibbs said that Lawrence and Simpson
had suggested carp.
Mr.. Scott subsequently reported back to
his office and learned that Gibbs had told
falsehood and he bad an opportunity on
Friday night to push the words back into
Mr.. Groom's mouth. On this occasion
G bbs was not present and his associate
j. J. Groom, was the spokesman for the
firm.
candy Lawrence and Simpson sug-
gested Wyatt carp as referee, and that's |
why we appointed him. he said
You know that is not so, Mr. Groom"
declared Mr.. Scott. .'Mr Simpson had
nothing to do with it. He never knew
Wyatt carp until Mr.. Lawrence's friend
and companion, Lieutenant Esola. men
toned his name in an application for
pass"
Groom Immediately backed down from
his position and said that was probably so. |
hut that ''anyhow Lawrence endorsed |
carp as proper party TO referee the |