Jim Barry

Name: Jim Barry
Alias: James J. Barry
Hometown: Petaluma, California, USA
Birthplace: Culbertson, Montana, USA
Died: 1917-03-12 (Age:30)
Height: 179cm
Pro Boxer: Record

• Jim Barry Gallery
• Manager: Jimmy Sirocco, Ted Murphy
  

Barry started out touring with the John L Sullivan company taking on all comers.

Jim Barry was a hard-hitting half Irish, half Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) cowboy from Montana who did not mind fighting the good black heavyweights of the "Chitlin Circuit." Although he did not beat Sam Langford--only drew in their many fights--Barry did deck the Boston fighter on a couple of occasions. Barry was a capable, durable fighter in his prime.

In July of 1915 Barry was released from a New York hospital after taking the "Coke Cure".

During the tail-end of his long career, Barry became a drug addict and was murdered by a gambler. Contrary to some stories, there was no report of a shootout or a barroom brawl in Panama. To quote coverage in the Panama Star & Herald, 12 March 1917) "Jim Barry was shot and killed in the Lobby Hotel in Colon. His slayer was C. Jerrett, usually known as 'Tex Martin.' Martin accosted Barry in the Lobby Hotel bar and Barry pushed him back, saying that he didn't want anything to do with him. (There had been an altercation between them in Panama City the previous day, stemming from a disagreement over a gambling debt.) Martin then pulled a Colt 44 and shot Barry three times. Barry staggered out of the bar and fell dead. Martin was quickly arrested after the shooting and later stood trial for murder. Apparently it was found that Martin had been threatened by Barry, was acting in self-defense, and was released. He was later reported to have been killed in San Antonio, Texas.

There was a story that when he died Barry was in possession of a gold and silver belt entrusted to him by none other than John L. Sullivan. The belt was never recovered. 'December 10, 1912 Tacoma Times article.