The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-03
Fitz Shows Were He Has Lost a
Big Fortune.
Figures That He Has Been Done
Out of $125,OOO.
MANAGERS N CLUBS
Find the Lanky Australian Easy
and Swindle Him.
Experience With Jim Hall and
Dan Steprt Recalled.

New York, Sept. 3.-Robert Fitzsim-
mons. IN a signed statement today de-
clares that he has been robbed out Of
more than $125. 900 in purses and man
Rgeria1 shares during his career in the
r1ng. He says:
IRON the moment I arrived in this
country from Australia I certainly have
been up against a stiff game. for when
I wasn't swindled out of the purses I
fought for 1 was being robbed out of
the money I was entitled to by the diff
my interests
LOST A $40, 900 PURSE.
"One Of the worst deals I ever got
WAS from the officials of the Crescent
Athletic club Of New Orleans They
matched me to fight Jim Hall, of Au-
STRATA. and were so sure of drawing a
big crowd that they offered US a purse
of $40.o00 to battle for. I never for a
moment mistrusted the officials, n
as they were the most influential citi-
zens OF New Orleans, / took a check
from them for the amount of the purse
The fight, as far as the attendance
was concerned, was a frost, and as none
Of the members was willing to make
good b purse, the result was that I
was done out of my money. The only
thing I got for my victory was the
80 cents.
After being swindled out of this
money I fought many fights in rapid
succession. Half the time I would get
the money I was entitled to, while on
other occasions I would get only a
small amount of the purse
AT the beginning of the year 1895 I
started out on the road with a theatre
cal show, meeting all corners in four
u bouts. As his was my first ex-
perience in hat line I, Of course, was
the easiest kind of a mark for the man
ager of the show, for, as I was work.
fUE m the nQrCnnfapp and did not know
what the receipts Of the show amounted
to each week, 1 a to tax the money
offered me.
SAYS HE WAS SWINDLED.
in December. 1896, 1 suffered my sec
ond sw1ndle- This happened in San
Francisco during my fight with Tom
Sharkey- I fought the sailor for a
purse of $4,000, winner to take all
knocking him out with a punch in the
stomach. But the referee, Wyatt carp,
decided against me by declaring that I
had fouled the sailor.
In spite of the fact that we had the
money tied up on an order from the
courts, / lost again, however, for IN
other court decided that the referees
decision was fnal, and Of course Shar-
key got all of the purse.
"Onee again I went on the road, and,
like my previous experience at this
game, I was done good and hard My
next sad experience occurred when 1
~ ~OA = ct S0AA lily Il
agreed to go into partnership with Dan
Stuart, who pulled of the fight, as I
thought I o make a lot of mone
out Of this battle. Once again I got
IT in b neck, for we lost money on
the first two fights, and I was compelled
Ito hand over to Stuart the purse Of $15.-
300 1 won. and also my side bet of 49,
900. making 81, 500 altogether.
BLAMES HIS MANAGERS.
las I was greatly in need of money
after the fight 1 at once went out on
the road again with my own
The same hard luck stuck to me which
has followed me in almost all of my
enterprises, for I had the misfortune
to be windle again by my manager.
Il don't care about stating who my
managers were in all of these enter
prises. for, although they robbed me
right and left every chance they got, I
don't care about letting the public
speak harshly of them.
After figuring up my losses I can
safely say without fear of contradiction
4 have been swindled out of $125, 900. In
the matter of purses I lost $4,000; my
managers got the rest
THAT is the reason I did my own
business in the last four fights I have
fought"