The Washington times., 1905-09-05
JEFF WILL NOT
REFEREE FIGHT
His Demand for $4,000 Cor.
sidered Extortionate.
NOLAN WON'T HAVE HIM
Ex-Champ Has Angered Nelson's Man
ager-George Siler Mentioned-No
Fear of No-Bout.
NOLAN WON'T HAVE HIM
By W. w. NAUGHTON.

San FRANCISCO. Cal. Sept. 5-Last
evening Jim Jeffries wired James w.
Conroth as follows, from Los Angeles
Two thousand dollars or it's Off
This message meant that jeff wanted
that sum for refereeing the Britt-Nelson
fight next Saturday afternoon
AT midnight Billy Nolan. manager of
Battling Nelson. said:
Jefries cannot referee this contest
1t was agreed among Coffroth, Willie
Britt. and myself when JEFF was select
cd that he was TO be here five days be-
fore the contest. That meant that he
should have been here today He IS
not on the ground. and we will not ac-
cept him now. Ny choice for the posi-
ton was Siler, of Chicago, and as Britt's
choice has failed to comply with the
agreement made. think should be al
lowed to name Siier. 1 will not insist,
however. 1 am willing to meet Britt
early tomorrow and try to reach a mu-
,uai agreement in regard to a referee.
Jen cannot act now: This is a decision
OF Nelson end myself, and is final.
Acted Shabbily.
Jeffries has acted like a man who
did not care for the job He has received
kilograms and has not answered them.
and now when he should be on the
ground he is asking for four times the
price ever paid a referee, and telling
people down where he lives that he
does not care whether he takes the job
or not
Nolan's argument was in the nature
OF bombshell. as all day long the
question was not whether Jeffries would
be rejected but whether the fighters
would pay him the price without any
further parley.
Up 70 Fighters.
When Cotfroth received the telegram
from jeff he said:
y must refer this matter to the fight
ers- It's their affair entirely 1 had no
choice in the selection of a referee and
l gave the principals to understand that
IL they picked an outside man they
would have to pay his charges / an.
rot going TO worry about the thing. /
will simply place Jeff's demand before
the managers and let them deal with
Willie Britt came in from the beach
last night in answer to a telephone mes
sage from Coffroth and was closeted
with the Colma promoter for a full
hour. Seen later Willie was more tact
Oil man or an Equitable Life official in
the presence of an interviewer.
Nothing Alarming.
II iHls way, SAID Wll.le. Hheu a
chunk Of unpleasant information hits
you suddenly between fifth rib and the
point of the jaw. you feel like standing
away and sparring for wind. Now I've
found during my career as a manager
that obstacles which at first glance
seem unsurnountable were easy enough
to overcome If you went at them In the
proper manner. and in the proper spirit
''Off-hand ] should say that there is
nothing TO be alarmed about and I'd
prefer not TO commit myself further on
the subject until tomorrow
Which means that Willus is taken
aback and wants 20 talk IL all over with
Jimmy. interpreted a Colma Club Off
cial when Willus and his cigar had
drifted around corner to catch a
beach car.
Nolan Is Sore.
Nolan could not be located by Coff-
roth until near midnight. but once Mel |
sons manager was found he did not
mince matters He made II plain that |
Jen had missed his chance
AS the date of the fight is close at |
hand and the seats are selling like hot |
cakes. II is believed that Managers
Nolan and Britt viii soon reach a deci-
sion as to who is to substitute for jeff
ries. Siler, who is to reach town In a |
dates and 1t is highly probable that
Eddie Graney's name will be brought |
upon the boards again. |