The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1910-02-11
Gleason Was Handed a Hook.

New York. Feb. 5.-"TcN" Richard
made n verbal agreement with Jack
Gleason, Sam Berger being a witness,
that Gleason was to have the naming
OF the place for the Jefiries-Johnson
fight The agreement was not put in
writing, as Gleason had received word
from California that his mother was on
her death bed. He hurried to catch a
train for his home, and has not heard
from Richard directly since that after.
noon. This, in brief is the substance
of long letter received from Gleason
last night in response to a query as to
what was the matter in the ranks of
the joint managers of the champions
ship battle 1t explains a situation
that no one in the east understood.
Gleason relied on Richards word
and went ahead with his arrangements
Then Richard, without consulting his
partner named Salt Lake as the scene
of the fight, while Gleason was sour.
rying about California, making ar
engagements for pulling off the big mill
either within the limits of San Fran
cisco, or across the bay in Alameda
county. Here is the letter in full:
San Francisco, Cal, Jan. 26.-ln
the presence and at the request of
Sam Berger Richard verbally agreed
that | was to name the battle ground.
That was the day | left New York
for San Fransico and, as you know,
had to rush in order to catch my
in
has turned out to be so important was
not put into writing. Since leaving
the east have not been able to get
word out of Richard. He answers
neither my letters nor my kilograms.
The only word l have had from him
came through the press, so l am com
pletely at loss to account for his at.
| titude.
There is no doubt that the fight will
draw more money in San Francisco.
With the money in the box office, the
| fighters will be sure Of getting what
| their contract calls for, so l am sure
they will coincide with my views when
! the time comes. l am going to Seattle
| to see Jeffries and Berger, with the
object of bringing the matter to def.
mite conclusion. 1t may then be nee
essary for Berger and to journey east
| to take the matter up with Johnson
| and Little, as l am determined to stop
| this nonsense at any cost. My feel
| ings regarding Richard are as follows:
| am ready and willing to abide b.
my agreement with him if things can
be arranged amicably. But this con
test must take place in California, pro-
viding, of course, the fighters take my
view Of affairs.
I'm the event that Richard is dissat-
| isfied | will return to him the amount
of the stake money now deposited with
| Timothy d. Sullivan and undertake to
carry out the original agreement with
| the fighters. Does that sound like a
fair proposition?
But, in any event, the fight will
take place. If it is settled that Cali
| fornia is to be the scene l will i'm
mediately announce the location of the
arena and start building at once. In
terest is intense, and my daily mail
shows letters from all over this coun-
try, as well as Europe and Australia,
asking for seat reservations. Part of
my plan of handling the battle is to
open Offices in New York and all other
big American cities, where a repre-
sentative will always be on hand to
give information and care for seat
reservations as we'll as hotel accommo.
| dations in San Francisco"