The Washington times., 1907-05-10
jeff Says O'Brien
Wanted to Fake
Scrap With Him
Champion Was to Get $4,000 for Taking
Count-HoW Dare You Insult Ne,
Sir! Was His Reply.
By E. c. VAN LOAN.

LOS ANGELES, Cal, May 1O.-Big
Jim Jeffries. the retired heavyweight
champion of the world and the one man
in whom the sporting public has I'M
plicit confidence, has added the final
touch to the career Of Joe Hagan, pet
ter-known as Jack O'Brien, the-ace-in-
the-hole pugillst
O'Brien has always been regarded as
4 smooth business man, but II Will
amaze his closest friends TO learn that
he actually had the audacity TO propose
10 Jim Jeffrics that the latter fake a
fight with him in Nevada. Jeffries to
take the count FOR the sum OF $4,000.
Big Jim was an interested spectator at
the rinsside. and the poor showing which
O'Brien made puzzled and disguised
him. This morning he learned Of
O'Briens attempt TO frame up the fight,
and 50 great was his wrath that he
told the following story. stating that he
believed that the time had come TO
rid the game Of Jack O'Brien and
drive him from the ring disgraced AMI
discredited.
Asked JEFF to Fake.
Tried to tie Tommy up to so out to
him, did he?" asked JEFF. We'll, it
he tried to do the same thing with
me. Jack O'Brien is the first and only
man who ever came TO me and asked
me TO do \ crooked thing. Of all the
fighters and managers know, this man
is the only one who. ever had the gall
to ask me 10 fake a fight. Worse than
that he wanted me 10 lay down 10
him. Here is what happened:
Shortly after the fight with Burns,
O'Brien made a trip 20 Nevada 70 see
the Herman battle and look over
the possibilities in that State. When
he returned 10 Los Angeles. he called
on me at ny town residence, 1875 Day
ton avenue. 1t was IN the morning
when he called. and he lost no time
about getting dowT 70 business He
did not make any bones about IL either
Named $4,000 as Reward.
Jim. said he, I have some business
TO talk over with you; 1t may interest
you and may not 1 don't know whether
you would have anything to do with a
propl Ion of this kind
Il saw that he was trying to make
me say something, but I shut him up
and made him come out with it.
Z" 1t is just this. he said finally:
I have found certain party or par
ties IN Nevada who say they will give
$50. 600 purse for a fight between you and
me. They will place an additional $4,000
for you. making in all $SO,OOO-every cent
OF which will go 10 you
Then he stopped for a second and
wound up with these identical words:
you'll Have to Take the Count"
But you will have to take the count
TO get it
1T nearly paralyzed me that he should
come out with a bald-faced plan like
that. / began TO laugh at him and he
saw right away that It was all off. I
told him that 1 did not need money bad
and he interrupted me again to say:
OF course. I did not think that you
would pay any attention to It. and I
told the Nevada people so at the time.
Before O'Brien went away 1 told him
that had been on the level so far and
that II ever fought again It would have
10 be on the square. What is $4,000 10
man alongside his record for being
square2 It would be selling out pretty
cheap, 1 think. II Is worth a lot more
than that 10 me to be on the level
told him that II 1 had been out to do