The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-03-25
Chicago Man Trains Faithfully for
Battle To Be Fought in This
City Saturday Night
GATE MONEY TO BE $4,000
Lured by Promises of Easy Money John
w. Crooks of Chicago, Supports
HIS Trainer While Pre-
pairing for Ring Career

To have put in three months hard
work training for prize fight which
never was intended to be fought, and
then to be robbed by his manager. is
the experience OF John William Crooks.
who last night reported the mat,
ter to the Harrison street police of
Chicago
Crooks, who lives at the Waters
hotel, 407 State street, was "discov-
cred" three months ago by a man
known to him as William Nolan. eek
champion lightweight of Australia. -
Nolan, who said he had fought Hines
and Kid" Barry, made Crooks be-
heve he was cut out for a fighter in
stead of a, "sand logger" at, which
occupation he was employed.
You ought to get into the game
said the ex-champion, of Australia.
and if you let the grape juice. alone
you can clean up a barrel of money in
two or three years. You re a born
fighter, you re only clubbing away
your time. I'll teach you the game
eO-N~ oN0AAN y va OdO Ou lu0 IOdu.
why, Gull, Wen be millionaires,
You've got it on Battling Nelson and
Papke and all them other guys. Let
me make fighter out of you. In
three months I'll have you in shape to
take on any 135 pound boy in the
world
1t was the first time in his life that
anybody had ever talked to Crooks in
this way, and his heart and pocketbook
went out to the ex-champion.' -
Out in Kansas City, where he came
from, no one had ever told him he was
destined to be the champion light
weight puglilist of the world.
The Australian offered to instruct
Crooks in the art Of jabs and upper
cuts, if the latter would pay the ''ex-
champions board and ''slip'' him a
little change now and then. 1t was
agreed, and Crooks started in on his
ming career
A gymnasium was fitted up in the
basement of the hotel and here the
coming lightweight champion was wont
to- punch the bag seven or eight hours
"a day In addition to sparring with
Nolan.
Every morning they would arise
early and take five or six mile walk
to harden the muscles and get up an
appetite for the large, juicy steaks
that Crooks was paying for.
This sort of training continued up to
last Saturday. That night Nolan and
his unknown" were to, have gone to
Kenosha to fight ten round go with
Tony Pardello, who is well known
among the sporting: mem In this sec
ton. The match was to- be for $10C
a. side, the winner to. take so per cent
Of the receipts. Nolan told his cham
pion that the gate money would be
about $4,000, as the. fight was arranged
by the Business Men s. Pastime Asso-
citation of Kenosna.
Malachy Hogan was to be referee
and stakeholder.
At 8 o'clock Saturday night Nolan
left the hotel to- see about the trans
portation. He borrowed a new suit of
clothes and an overeoat from Crooks.
After two hours of waiting for No
Ian s return, Crooks went to Malachy
Hogan IS buffet to see whether his
manager was. there. Hogan had never
heard of the Eek champion" of Aus
tralia, and he told Crooks that he
wouldn It be a fighter if he lived a
million years.
Crooks impaired the information to
Lieut.. Bonfeld, saying he thought No
Ian was tsharper.'