The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-29
IT WAS NOT PREARRAHGEO
Jim Corbstt Says Connie Ncvey
Was Innocent.
He HAS LEFT THE CITY
Testimony Given Before the Investigate
ing Committee OF ths Lsnox Ath-
letic Club-Trying to FIX
Responsibility.

New York. Nov. 2s.-James j. Corr
bett says to-day that he believes Con-
ME Mcvey innocent Of any intentional
or prearranged wrong doing when he
entered the ring during the ninth round
of the Sharkey-C orbett fight last Tues
day night at the Lenox Athletic club.
and consequently forfeited the contest
to Sharkey. This statement on Cor
belts part was made at the close Of the
inquiry which was Instituted by the d.
rectors OF the Lenox Athletic club tn
fix the responsibility for Mcvey's ac-
tons. The inquiry or Investigation took
place In the presence of a large number
OF sporting men. the principals with
their handlers and the club officials be-
ing present. The only absentee was
McVey. whose invasion of the ring
caused all the trouble. 1t was said
that McVey had left the city. but his
whereabouts could not be a~scertained.
State Senator Timothy d. Sullivan.
representing the Lenox Athletic club.
acted as chief induisitor and invited
n and all of those present to ask
whatever questions they pleased Of the
witnesses.
w. Il. Gray, Kid McCoy's
was the first witness. He said that six
or seven days before the fight, while In
company with Mccoy. he met the two
tRt VI " ~ III u
the Aston house. He told them that a
friend of his. Whose name he was not
at liberty to divulge. had informed him
that the bout was to end in the ninth
round. and that Sharkey would be de-
clared the winner.
Senator Sullivan asked Gray to pro-
luce his informer and promised $500 tn
any charitable organization or institu-
ton IL Gray would bring his man and
have him repeat the assertion.
Gray left the building. promising To
try and get his friend to r~eiterate the
statement.
Honest John Kelly. the referee.
said:
up to the ninth round / thought II
was an even thing and ! firmly believe
that there was no taking on the part OF
the principles. who were fighting to the
best of their ability. As to McVey's ac-
ton, / believed then and am still of
the opinion that McVey was had by
some person or persons. The reason
that i declared all bets OF was to pro-
tect the house. as II was clear to me
that McVey's interference was a pre-
arranged plan. / n say who had
McVey. 7 don't believe hat he got
into the ring to ave Corbett from de-
feat. Before the master of ceremonies.
Charles J. Harvey. all bets
off. John Considine called on me to de-
clare all bets off. but I told him that
n nav AAhoN aaaa
that fact three OF four minutes before
that time"
nnouncer Harvey stated that Kelly
told him to that Sharkey had
won and after a little delay he re-
quested him to add that all bets were
on.
George Considine. Corbett's manager,
was emphatic in his denial OF any
knowledge of a put-up job.
Charley White, Corbett's trainer.
said he knew nothing of any deal or
Job, and no man in the world could get
him to be a party to any o work.
He knew nothing of McVey's intentions
until Conni had jumped into the ring.
n declared dramatically: II would
kill any one, IL necessary, to prevent
such an infringement of the rules"
Tom O'Rourke. Sharkey's manager.
thought Sharkey had undoubtedly the
best of the fight. In fact, Sharkey
was the only one in 1t.
What / am sorry for" ne said. lis
that the contest ended as II did, but
such a thing cannot occur at the club
again. as a new rule has been made. In
case any man attempts to enter the ring
in the future he will be promptly ar
rested and the fight will be continued
and decided on its merits"
O'Rourke denied all knowledge of n
kilograms or documentary evidence
which would tend to show collision,
and stated that the amount of money
which Sharkey received was $16.S45.
while Corbett's share was $6,S45. Those
sums were made up of So m rs per
cent. of a $40. 900 purse and so per cent.
of the gate receipts exceeding $4,000.
While O'Rourke was making his
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