The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-11-05
Lewis Tells of Trying To Kill Tony GoIento
By JACK CUDDY


 New York, Nov. 5 ---(Up)-- Phil Lewis said he rated the late Joe Jacobs one of the rings greatest managers for many reasons, ''but chiefly because of his restraint"
 When the wee, withered old man made this statement last night dur ing a round-table discussion, a re- porter exclaimed: Because of his restraint Why-Joe was one of the widest guys that ever started a free-for-all in a nightclubl"
 Take it easy, sonny" cautioned Lewis. He adjusted his spectacles, and then he aimed his snapping black eyes straight at the reporter. He declared:
 "Jacohs had the most restraint of any fight manager I ever heard of. He shot neither Max Schmeling nor Tony Oalento. Particularly, he did not, shoot Oalento. That was tops in restraint.
 With Schmeling it was 6 case of vile ingratitude. You understand, sonny: After all Joe Jacobs did for Schrnehng, that German so-and-so finally chopped Joe down-frofn B l-3 percent manager to c 10 per- cent agent. If I had been Jacobs, I'd probably have put Schmeling under the old apple tree-n you know what mean, sonny.
 Wild Animal
 with z -nto it was . different xrral 1flrA kV-xy4Sarv kn manage a wild animal--a crazy, wild animal. And the more success Galento had, the wilder and crazier he got. know, because I managed him for four years and, Il months. And I wound up trying to kill him."
 The startled reporter asked, you tried to kill Galento?"
 That's right. sonny, I tried to shoot him."
 How was that?"
 The wizened little man, who quit counting his birthdays at 65, ex- plained that the attempted execu- tion of "Two-Ton" Toyn had oc- cured in 1883. That was Lewis fourth year of trying to pilot the Orange, N. J., fat man. Jack Demp- sey and Max Waxman had tried it before Lewis.
 On June 8, 1883, Galento regis tered an upset by knocking out Red Barry of Washington, D. C., in the first round at Yankee Stadium. This kayo occurred in the sefni-final to the Maxie Baer-Max Schmeling main event in which Baer belted out Schmeling in the 10th round.
 Reds Barry was a great favorite in Washington, Lewis continued. "So-after Galento knocked him out with one punch in New York-a Washington promoter makes a re- match. Galento and I go to Wash ington for the fight. Galento, who never could stand prosperity or pulp licity, takes an overdose of his favorite beverage-beer. He takes such an overdose that he's out stiff in his hotel room on the night of the fight. I douse him with Ice water. give him the smelling salts; pinch him; pull him; I kick him. But it's no go: and the fights called of"
 The promoter held Lewis respon- sible for the cancellation. Lewis had to pay Sl 500 to help defray the promoters expenses. And the fum- ing Lewis decided that he would collect all or part of this &l, 600 from Galento. Repeated attempts to tele- phone GalentO at his home in Orange were futile. Finally Lewis visited Tony in Orange.
 Gets His .45
 T meet Galento in the hall of his house." Phil recalled. T tell him to sit down and write me out a cheek for $l 600 or I'll shoot him full of holes. I know he's got money in the bank. He tells me to scram out of his house or he'll hit me with a left hook that'll cause a funeral. I tell him there1l be a funeral all right. but that he'll be the nain- eventer in the coffin. Then I reach for my .45 rod.
 'The second I start to reach. Tony turns and runs upstairs like a goat-with me after him. He jumps out of a second-flOor win- dow onto a roof and slides down the roof and out of sight before I can get a shot at him.
 T sprint back for the stairs and trip on one of the upper steps, I go tumbling down the stairs It's q wonder my neck isn't broken; but I still got the gun in my hand. ! rush out of the front door just | as Tony is starting to drive away in his automobile. I start shooting and he starts weaving with the car V1v0=