Norwich bulletin., 1909-08-12
jeffries And Johnson Sign Agreement
Place of Fight will be Selected within 60 Days-Each Must Post 1000 with Comiskey within I hree Days Detroit and Phila. Still Even-Northampton Again Trims State Leaders-Hospital Beats Fort Wright

Chicago, Aug. 11.-Articles of agree ment for a fight between Jack Johnson and James J. Jeffries for the heavy weight championship of the world were signed here today The fight is to take place within eight months before the club offering the best inducements. All bids for the fight are to be made in side sixty days.
 Sam Berger, manager for James J. Jeffries, George Little, Johnson's man ager, and Jack Johnson were present at the meeting when the articles were signed. Little, however, had nothing to do with the arrangement of terms for the fight, having turned the whole affair over to Johnson.
 The articles prepared by Jeffries were given Johnson by Berger. After carefully perusing the papers Johnson handed them back to Berger, remark ing as he did so that they were not at all satisfactory to him. He declared he was ready to sign agreements, but he wanted to sign an agreement to light" He then outlined what he conceived would be a satisfactory agreement.
 A warm discussion followed. Der ger objected to any mention of the purse in the articles, but he finally yielded this point. Johnson was equal ly as insistent that the reference to Jeffries as the heavyweight champion of the world be stricken from the agreement, declaring that his position on this point was irrevocable. He final ly won out and all reference to this subject was omitted.
 The agreement as signed calls for a fight of from twenty to one hunureu rounds for the heavyweight champion ship of the world. The division of the purse was left to the decision of Jeff fries. It also provides that as a guar antee of good faith each of the parties to the agreement shall post $5,000 with Charles A. Comiskey of Chicago with in seventy-two hours on the under standing that the $5,000 operate as a side bet on the contest.
 The following is the agreement signed by Berger and Johnson:
 Form of agreement entered into this 11th day of August, 1909, between Jack Johnson of Galveston, Tex, and James J. Jeffries of Los Angeles, Cal
 Tt is agreed between these men mutually that they shall box a certain number of rounds, the same to be any where from twenty to one hundred, for the heavyweight championship of the world
 Contest to be held before the club offering the best Inducements and mu- tually agreed upon by the contestants.
 ''The division of such purse shall be on a basis of either 50 per cent. and 40 per cent. to winner and loser, re- spectively, or 75 per cent. and 25 per cent, or winner may be permitted to take the entire amount.
 "The decision in this matter to rest with James J. Jeffries.
 "The sum of $5,000 each to be post ed with Charles A. Comiskey of Chi cago as a guarantee of good faith and the fulfillment by each side of the terms of this agreement. Said money to be posted within seventy-two hours. It is further agreed that the above named $5,000 shall operate as a side bet on the result of the contest.
 Tt is further agreed that the club will be selected and mutually agreed upon sixty days from date, at which time all further details will be mu- tually agreed upon.
 Contest to take place not later than six months from date of selecting club and the signing of final articles.
 (Signed) JACK JOHNSON,
 (Signed) SAM BERGER,
 for James J. Jeffries."