The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-12
THE LETTER?
s.FITZ. SAYS HE DOES NOT KNOW MIR.
SHELLY, OF CINCINNATI,
And Therefore Never Told Him He Ex-
pected to He Defeated-Oners S2,-
o for the Alleged Letter.

NEW YORK, June u.-"Bob' Fitzsim-
mons, ex-champion heavyweight pugilist, in
company with his wife and his manage
Martin Julian. attended a ball game at
West End Field Club, Jersey City, this
afternoon. Fftzsimmons acted as one Of two
umpires and after the game he and Julian
found time TO deny the assertions made by
Leonard Shilly. who Is credited with being
an attache of the sheriffs office in Cincin-
natl. Shilly claims to be a personal friend
of Fitzsimmons, but Bob says he does not
know such a man and Julian is equally pos
tive that he never met such a person. The
letter in itself purported that Fitzsimmons
feared defeat and advised his friends not to
risk any money in their belief that he would
retain the championship.
IT never wrote such a letter. said Titz,
Il don't know Shilly. Who Is he, any how?
You say he is connected with the sheriffs
office at Cincinnati. Well, II he is, 1 know
nothing about the sheriff or him. / never
wrote such a letter. I'm not a letter writer.
This letter in question is dated New York.
May 81. Since 1 went inro raining some
weeks ago, / only wrote enc letter, and that
was to DR.. Kelly, a dentist &c Peoria. ILL.,,
but / made no mention Of my chances Of
victory or defeat in it.
"Ill tell you what I'll do" continued
Fitzsimmons. lin order TO snow the public
that l never wrote such a letter to Leonard
Shilly or any other person, I'll give $3.50 to
the person who produces such d document,
and furthermore, if any one believes that lie
has such a letter, 1 will pay his expenses
from wherever he resides TO this ely and
make him a present of $3.50 providing that
such a communication can be produced OF
course the letter is a forgery Il sroh a
letter exists, but want to be satisfied as
to its existence and / also want the public
to be satisfied that 1 never wrote it. nor had
it written for me 1 nm az 8 loss II lnder-
stand why any person could make such a
statement because 1 see no reason why any
one should try to injure me IL this vi Ier-
hand manner"
Martin Julian. Fftzsi N ncns's mararer.
was equally emphatic in his denunciation OF
the report and said: "FitZsimmons and / are
close friends, and / know that he never
wrote such a letter. 1t is a lie on the face
of it. Fitzsimmons is not making any idle
boast when he says that he will give 81, 800
for the production of the letter If 1t can be
proved to be authentic. This We can easily
afford to do. seeing that We know If such a
letter exists is must be a forgery. Now let
these people come to time, and If there Is
a negro in the wood pile, we will soon dig
him out. If the letter can be placed in evil
dence, we will gladly pay $3.50 to the per-
son presenting II as well as all other ex-
penses, in addition to $500 promised by
F~1tzsimmons.' Mrs. F~itzsimmons. who was
present. said that she was positive that her
husband had never written such a letter.
Bob was more than confident of success
and all those who saw the fight must GER
tainly agree with me in saying that he did
his utmost to retain the championship. He
had no doubts as to his ability to defeat
Jeffries, and although he was beaten L am
not quite satisfied that he connot reverse
the order of things"
Several rumors are in circulation that
Jeffries has offered to spar with Fitzsim-
mons at a benefit for the latter, but Man.
ager Julian said tonight that Jeffries and
his manager, instead Of giving a benefit, the
proceeds of which would go TO Fitzsimmons,
had made a proviso that they should re-
ceive so per cent. Of the receipts. When
this proposition was made to Fitzsimmons
he and his manager declined TO have any
thing to do with ii, and stated .hat when
Fftzsimmons gave a benefit for Jack Demp-
sey after he had defeated him, Dempsey re-
ceived all the coin. Neither FitZsimmons
nor Julian will accept half favors from the
new champion or his manager, and If they
wish to give the ex-champion a benefit he
must have all.