Omaha daily bee., 1910-05-22
Law Will Not
Block the Fight
Officials of County and City Say the
Jeffries-Jo hnson Bout is
Legal.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 2.-The attitude
Of the law officers of this city toward the
Jeffries-John fight was definitely settled
yesterday by District Attorney Fickert,
who declared there was no legal grounds
for interference.
IF the contestants comply with the pro-
visions OF the code and the ordinance" he
said, 1T is not within my power, the
power OF the police department or of the
sheriff to prohibit the fight. have read
the articles of agreement between Jeffries
and Johnson and they are, in all respects,
within the statutes.
1T is impossible for me to determine
whether there will be a violation OF the
state law or not II, during the fight, the
principals or their representatives, violate
the law, they will be punished. AS has
been stated by the court, both in this
country and in England, 1t is a question
for a jury to determine whether such a
contest Is a sparring match or a prize
fight.
III a majority Of the people of the state
Of California are against professional spar
ring exhibitions their remedy lies with the
legislature"
johnson Loses Suit.
Champion Jack johnson varied the mon
otony of training today by appearing in
one of the superior courts to answer to a
suit brought by sam Fitzpatrick, his
former manager for a balance of $1ST.50,
said to be due him for services. johnson
received a knockout blow at the hands of
the court, which awarded Fitzpatrick a
Judgment for S11S and costs.
Johnson was accompanied by Manager
George Little and Barney Furay, one of
his staff of trainers. The fighter ex-
planned he had never agreed TO pay Fitz-
patrick the sum claimed for acting as man
ager of the training quarters while he was
getting ready for his fight with Ketchel.
Johnson appealed to Biblical witnesses
to witness the truth of his statements and
thus called forth rebuke from the court.
When the decision was given against
him he only smiled and said;
IF Fitzpatrick had asked for the money
he could have had Il any time'
1t was announced today ethe scheduled
boxing Saturday afternoon at the training
quarters would not take place, as Johnson
| intended to rest up and do some extra work
on Sunday.
johnson does not want to go STALE" II
was explained. HE has forty-five days
yet in which to get In shape for the match.
and why should he rush. Before he gets
ready for the fight he will be boxing every
afternoon"
The work today consisted of twelve miles
on the road.
Jeff whips Trainers.
BEN LOMOND, Cal, May 21.-Jeffrles
staged two good sketches for the benefit of
his campfollowers yesterday In the morning
he did some exhibition juggling with his
| sparring partners, tossing them about much
as the hero in a drama handles the villain.
| Bob Armstrong was the first to go on
with the undefeated champion, and in the
| first two rounds escaped without damage,
as the morning air was chilly and Jeffries
was slow to warm up. In the third, how
ever, Bob carelessly stepped in front OF
| several heavy ones. One left hook caught
| him on the forehead and he would have
! gone to the floor had he not hit the wall
first. When ChoynskPs turn came Jeffries
was becoming interested in his work, and
| poor old Joe was tossed about recklessly
for three rounds. He emerged from the
scuffle with bruised ear and a blackened
eye.
| Brother Jack made his boxing debut in
the final two rounds. Jeffries did not think
his brother was in good condition and han.
died him gently.
Jeffries warned his sparrlng partners to-
day that there would be plenty of work
for them in the future and they could ex.
pect no rest until after Jim Corbetts ar
rival.
Manager Sam Berger will return to Der
Lomond tomorrow morning with Tex Rick
ard and Dick Adams. One hundred and
fifty members OF the Olympic club are ex
pected later in the day. The entire JEFF
fries party will go to Santa Cruz tomorrow
evening to see the big fighter in the frs
of his public exhibitions.