The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-05
<--v-s 4EN
FITz SAYS HE WAS ROBBED.
Figures That He Has Been Done Out
Of S126.OOO.

Of $125,OOO.
New York Special to the Times-Herald.
Robert Fitzsimmons, in a signed state
ment, today declares that he has been
robbed out of more than $125, 600 in purs-
es and managerial shares during his ca
reer In the ring He says:
From the moment l arrived in this
country from Australia 1 certainly have
been up against stiff game, for when
] wasn't swindled out of the purses
fought for, l was being robbed out Of
the money 1 was entitled to by the DIFF
ferent managers I had looking after my
interests.
II can realize now how easily 1 was
euchred out of my money, for I was
such an easy-going fellow that every enc
took advantage of me. Fight promoters
and managers gave me whatever money
they felt like and pocketed the rest.
Before | had manager l transacted
my own business as we'll as / knew how
The matchmakers of the different clubs
which pulled off fights in this country
were not slew in discovering that 1 was
easy, and on that account they just
rubbed 1t into me for fair whenever
fought.
One Of the worst deals l ever got was
from the officials of the Crescent Ath-
letic club, of New Orleans. They match
and were SO sure of drawing a big crowd
that they offered us purse Of $4,000 to
battle for. L never for moment mis-
trusted the officials, and as they were
the most influential citizens of New Or
leans, l 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
/ Ql(pa6 he mn 4lo
done out of my money. The only thing |
got for my victory was the check they
gave me. 1t wasn't worth 90 cents
/ After being swindled out of this money
I fought many fights in rapid succession.
! Half the time 1 would get the money |
was entitled to, while on other occasions
1 would get only small amount of the
/ purse.
cat the beginning of the year 1895
started out on the road with a theatrical
show, meeting all comers in four-round
bouts. AS this was my first experience
In that line l, of course, was the easiest
kind of mark for the manager of the
show, for, as 1 was working on percen-
tage and did not know what the receipts
of the show amounted to each week, /
had to take the money they offered me.
"In December, 1886, 1 suffered my sec
ond swindle This happened in San
A1ASASSO night with 1OIIl
Sharkey. 1 fought the sailor for a purse
Of $4,000, winner to take all Well,
won fairly from Sharkey by 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 mon
ey tied up on an order from the courts,
lost again, however, for another court
decided that the referees decision was
final, and of course Sharkey 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 / fought
Jim Corbett at Carson City. l agreed tc
go into partnership with Dan Stuart, who
pulled off the fight, as 1 thought 1 would
make lot Of money out of this battle
Once again I got 1t in the neck, for, as
we lost money on the first two fights,
was compelled to hand over to Stuart tbs
purse of $4,000 I won, and also my side
bet of $500, making s17,50O altogether.
After figuring up my losses I can safe
ly say without fear of contradiction
have been swindled out of sips, 600. In tho
matter of purses, I lost $50, 600; my mana.
gers got thu rest
THAT Is the reason did my own bust
ness in the last four fights 1 have
! fought"