Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-11
GOSSIP ON
THE COMING SCRAP
Richard Admits Opening of
Bids Was All Cut
and Dried.

NEW YORK. December 11.-During the
recent Jeffries-Johnson conferences in
Hoboken a story was in circulation to the
effect that Tex Richard had "sewed up
Johnson several weeks before so that
moters bid to be accepted by the negro
1t was also stated that Jack Gleason had
reached a similar understanding with JEFF
fries. but when Jeffries, Johnson. Glea son
and Richard were asked II these stories
were true they lost no time in making en-
phatic denials. But now comes an in
nocent statement from Richard, who, by
the way. is talking like well trained
barker. that reads this way:
L knew the day before the bids were
opened that Johnson would stand by me
and that Jeffries would be with Gleason
so we got together and came to an under
standing. Coffroth then told Gleason to
go ahead and come in with me-
In other words, the Richard Gleason bid
was a sure thing when il was tossed on
the table in Hoboken in the presence of
Stakeholder Murphy, johnson. Berger and
the other promoters. Yet it will be re-
membered that Johnson and Berger, act
Ing for Jeffries. demanded twentyfour
was the best bid. 1t has not been for
gotten that Promoter McCarey of Los
Angeles declared openly and with Il dis
play of i'll feeling that the opening and
the selection of the best bid was not ION
the up and up and that Graney who
is now favored by Johnson and Richard
for referee, after insisting that his bid
had been purposely turned down "for
reasons" soon became passive, probably
because he knew he would be taken
care of.
Richard still says lie will wager $1,000
that Croffroth is not in, and he can
probably secure Coffroths word for it.
But that does not alter the fact that
Coffroth has secured the right to show
the Jeffries-Johnson pictures in England
and France: also that Coffroths arena
at Colma will probably be selected as the
battle-ground after Richard has been con-
WINGED that Salt Lake City is out of the
question. Richard just at present is
booming the latter place and says he
will not be compelled to fix the authori-
ties that if the fight takes place there
the Salt Palace, in which there will DE
room for 10000 spectators. will be an
ideal arena. He admits that he took
Gleason In not only because the latter
had Jeffries," but also for the reason
that he could secure a permit in Cali
fornia in case Utah barred the mill.
Meanwhile Lou Houseman of Chicago
is out with statement that he merely
represented Jeffries and Berger in ar
ranging the secret conference at Hobo
ken, which Houseman says was neces-
sary to avoid possible indictments by the
Hudson county grand jury and the sub
squent eXtradition of the pugilists and
promoters. This belated excuse is plausi-
BILE enough, but the fact remains that the
door to the star chamber was guarded
by Hoboken city detective, who de-
clared that the law was not being vio-
lated and that the contab behind lock
and key was entirely unnecessary.
Johnson. though trif1e late in declar-
Ing himself, says that the story of pr-
vate arrangement with Jeffries to box
eight or ten rounds under pull for the
benefit of the picture machine is a huge
joke. The negro states that he doesn t
care whether the fight lasts one round or
folty-tive; that he intends to win at the
earliest opportunity and that a one-round
Knockout Will be just as interesting when
reproduced by the films as a prolonged
contest. He says further that he doesn't
believe in taking chances with the "dou-
BILE cross" and will trust nobody but him
self when he enters the ring Johnson
has signed a vaudeville contract of fif-
teen weeks which will net about 10000.
and says that he will begin training for
the big fight some time in April.
Richard and Gleason are anxious 10 ar
range at least two other fights to precede
the big bout-which will provide a sort of
carnival. If ketchell will agree to meet
Sam Lansford at catchweights they will
hang up a substantial purse. while a
match between Jimmy Walsh and the
English bantam champion. Digger Stan
ley, may also be arranged. Langford has
Ketchell. Papke or AL Kaufman if they
can induce one of these men to meet him