Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-28
WOLGAST MAKES
full STATEMENT
ACKNOWLEDGES HE MADE IN
DISCREET TALK
OFFERS PROOF THAT HE BET
UPON HIMSELF
Declares He Only "Kidded" Walsh,
and Proves That His Money Was
Wagered That He Would
Knock Out Chicago Boy
BY JAY DAVIDSON


Ad Wolgast, the great little feather
weight near-champion who was ac-
cused of planning a fake in his night
with Walter Little last Friday night at
Vernon, came to a realization last night
that he had blundered in some way and
that his reputation was at stake ana
his fighting record had been marred by
the part which he was charged with
taking in the unfortunate affair. AFTER
studying the situation he decided to
make a statement to the press in eX-
PLANTATION of his conduct, and he ac-
cordingly called the sporting writer's
into a meeting last night which was
Jones, and Tommy Walsh, who rel
creed the bout, and made a confession
of his indiscretion, for such it seems
only to have been.
Walsh did most of the talking, but
while he recited the conversations he
had with Wolgast at the latter,s train
ing quarters last Thursday and Friday
mornings, he asked WolgaSt to verify
or correct his statements at frequent
intervals Walsh then reiterated his
statement of Friday night, in justify
ing his action in calling off all bets on
the fight, and went more into details
regarding both interviews. AS he pro-
ceeded Wolgast spoke UP frequently
and verified the statement in all its de-
tails When Walsh had concluded VOL
CAST made an additional statement,
saying:
Nov, L told Walsh all that he has
said I told him. but [ want to say that
I only was kidding him, and that at
no time, until after the bets were de-
clared off, did I even dream that he had
taken me seriously. [ never planned
any fake, had no intention Of losing to
Little on a foul or in any other way,
and never in my life wanted to lose a
1, ,zsn n1yo1 10
never intended to and never tried to,
nor did anybody else bet for me, either
on myself or Little nor did | ask any
body to do So On the contrary, bet
$100 with -- that I would knock out
Little, and just before I entered the
ring [ gave Hobo Dougherty $10O in
gold to bet on me at to L to win, or
at evens, that l would knock Little out
He could not or did not place the
money Tom Jones bet $3.50 on me to
win, and / asked him for half of the
bet when he placed the money with
the betting commissioners.
''Had I wanted to do any dirty work
it would not have been necessary for
me to lose to Little to win a bet as I
could have placed my money at evens
that Little would stay the twenty
rounds, and permit him to do so while
not endangering my chances of Win
ming the decision. Also, had been in
cl1Q6Q 10 90 any dirty WOIh L udIuly
would have been so unW1Se as to take
Walsh, the referee, or anybody else in
on the deal. I had only about $3.50 left
of my purse with Webster, and at no
time did have more than $50 until got
the money from Jones that [ gave to
Dougherty to bet at ringside that |
would win. Nobody in the world acted.
for me in making any bets upon the
result, and nobody in the world had my
consent regarding any bet made. /
talked to nobody about the betting end
of the fight, except to those with whom
bet.
81 realize my position in the feather
weight division and know that L am
on the point of stepping into the cham
pionship. so few hundred dollars, the
most that I possibly could have cleaned
up by any dirty deal, could not begin
to compensate me for any loss in pres
tige at this time. I believe that I can
whip Abe Attell as decisively as 1
whipped Little and intend to be the
featherweight champion some day soon.
I made the statements to Walsh that
he attributes to me, but I never intend
ed them to be taken seriously. [ am
exceedingly sorry now that [ was so
childish as to even make such sim
pleton talk even in a kidding vein, and
want my friends to make q thorough
investigation and ascertain who made
DelS upon the uSlI ana trace any COIL
nection, real or imaginary. that they
may have had with me. I want the
truth to be known now, realizing that
I am to blame for being so foolish as
to make those silly talks, yet believing
that when the real facts are we'll known
I will be acquitted of any dishonorable
motives. I never fought a dishonest
battle in my life and never will. If
ever / am whipped it will be done hon.
mr. hyy f1ey1+ tori
Jones showed tickets in proof of his
statement that he had bet upon VOL
gast and verified the latter's statement
regarding the request for a half inter-
est in these bets. He also verified
Wolgast's statement regarding the
amount of money the latter had at any
time and as to the loan he made to
Wolgast the evening of the fight.
Notwithstanding the fact that VOL
gast stands convicted of being a blum
derer and very indiscreet young man
in his conversation, there is no evil
dence that can be unearthed so far to
dlsproVe his statement in any regard
There was an unusual amount of Little
money in sight late Friday afternoon.
but none of this can be traced to per-
sons who might have been concerned
with Wolgast in any attempted fake
result. 1t is an exceedingly unfortunate
affair and must of necessity reflect
upon Wolgast and in a degree mar his
otherwise excellent record, but since
there seems to be no overt act that
can add weight to the evidence against
him there is an inclination among the
fans to pass the affair up as a boyish
indlscretion, harmless in result ex-
cept as to its bearing upon him and
ms record and undoubtedly the great
little fighter has learned a lesson so
valuable and dear in experience that
ne will find it materially easier in fu-
ture to Keep his tongue from wagging
too much in idle talk.
OnIM Er.nnhiro L. r..LI