The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-24
Many Think He Threw the Fight to
Sharkey.
PUBLIC WAS sWINDLED
SIGNIFICANT TELEGRAMs SENT
BY CoRBETTS HACKERS.
Arrangements Changed; Hedge
Your Money" They Wired-Cor-
bett Denies the Charge That He
Was a Party to the Fraud-Would
Have Whipped sharkey, He Says.

the number was large-Spent today in
discussing last nights fight between
Corbett and Sharkey, and the way in
which it wound up. There was much
talk as to whether or not the referee,
Honest john Kelly, had exceeded his
authority in calling all bets off. those
who bet on Sharkey feeling that they
should have received their reward; but
the general feeling among the public
was that, while it might have been a
technical uSurpation upon Kelly part,
he probably did it in a desire to protect
the public, and from that point of view
that he was right. Many of those who
support boxing contests were much
disturbed as to the probable effect on
the attendance at the future fights, and
the opinion was freely expressed that
it had put a damper upon the sport for
some time to come.
AEcVey, whose entrance into the ring
caused the decision last night, was
asked today if he cared to make any
statement regarding his part in the af-
fair. He said: 81
I "Corbett was fouled early in the fight
by Sharkey, and | wished toscall the
! referees attention Ito the continued
fouls. L approached the ropes for that
purpose, and succeeded in attracting
Kelly's attention.
McVey- refused to answer any ques-
lions as to whether or. not he knew that
it was against the rules for him to get
in the ring while the fight was going
on.
Corbett said that the stories to the
effect that he and his friends had had
a hand in the way the fight was ended
was absurd. II had Sharkey on the
rum said Corbett, latter the first
three rounds, and I would have had
no trouble at all in putting him to
sleep"
The Herald tomorrow will print the
following: In the rage vented yester-
day by the devotees of the sport there
were few pleasant words, and those
were all for Honest John Kelly, who.
voicing the public belief that James j.
4 Corbett lost to Thomas Sharkey by a.
prearranged foul, declared all bets off.
But Kelly could not give back or order
restored the $47,S76 that was paid into
the pockets of the men who managed
for the Lenox Athletic club Tuesday
night, hence the expressed regrets be-
cause of McVey's untimely interfer-
enee
ARRANGEMENT CHANGED.
1t is now known. that men in New
York who had been. betting their money
on Corbet sent three kilograms west
/ ward. One went to Seattle Wash; an
other was sent to San Francisco, and
the third to Portland, Ore. Each tele-
gram was to a supporter of Corbett,
and read:
Arrangements changed Hedge your
money
Thousands and thousands of dollars
were sent to western cities to be placed
on Sharkey, ,sls
Corbett was seen at his home last
night. He did not look as, if he had
been in abattle with one of the heav-
! lest men in the pugilistic world, as
there was not a mark on him.
Really, 1 hardly know what to say
about this affair" he remarked NO
enc is so depressed as I am at the
action of McVey, which lost me the
fight. I have been, half daft ever since
Kelly gave the decision against me.
Cold chills have been running up and
down my back at-the thought that I
had the fight won and lost in such a
manner. Luck has been all against me
OF ate, but it is bound to change"
But, Jim, many think you yourself
was one of those in the job and bet on
Sharkey," was remarked.
Never in my life have I been ac-
cused of utter ignorance,' he answered.
People generally, | believe, have given
/ me some credit for possessing some in
telligence. Now, with a spark of intel
ligence in my brain, do you think [
would have so bungled affairs in such
a way? 1 think the mere fact that the
action of McVey appeared so palpable
is evidence that l was not at the bot
tom Of it. In the first place, if 1
wanted to be crooked, l would never
think of doing so unless 1 had fixed the
referee.
/ II there was anything wrong, do you
think ] would have rushed over to
Kelly and told him to declare all bets
off? In fact the first to yell to Kelly
to make such a decision was George
! Censidine If we had been in any skin
deal. and had bet on Sharkey do you
think that we would have had all bets
declared OFF,
DO you think McVey sold you out ?"
! i can't believe that he did. We have
been too close in our relations. If there
! had heen any funny business on his
part 1 would certainly have seen some
| change in him while we were training,
I do not say that he did not sell me
out. but / can't bring myself to believe
that he did. for / have been most lib
eral with him."
1t is ALLEGED that your protestations
to Kelly and your efforts to hit McVey
were forced. in view of the fact that
| you have such a nervous, eXcitable dis
position, which, if you had really meant
what you did, would have resulted in
your aiming blows at McVey."
RESTRAINED HIMSELF.
81 conducted myself coolly all
through the rumpus. I did not lose my
temper. I came very near striking Me
Vey but restrained myself as [ real
| lied that it might do no good after the
harm had been done. I can't see how
Mac could have lost his head, but
something was the matter. anyway. If
he had been bought to throw me, he
evidently realized the time had come
for action, for another stiff blow would
have defeated Sharkey.
THE fight ended so mysteriously
that, really, [ am in trance. I would
be ashamed to tell some people what /
do think. If some cry fake I can't help
it. The crowd can best Judge as to
that. never fought better in my life
than this time against Sharkey.
Kelly had no right TO declare bets
off, but he did the right thing. and
used good Judgment, but he. acted only
after my entreaty toSsave my friends
4 their money. 1t seems queer, however,
that he could not have told McVey to
keep out, as the latter was not inter
fering with us in any way, and no