The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-04-25
WRESTLING BOUT CALLED
OFF: DISCLOSURES OF A
SENSATIONAL KIND MADE
Understanding Existed Between
Wrtstlers as to the Outcome
of Match.
MILLER REFUSED TO REFEREE

The much advertised and long an
ticipated wrestling match between
Chris Person of Duluth and Karl Lehto
of Calumet, which was to have been
conducted at the Palestra Saturday
evening failed to materialize. At about
o'clock Saturday afternoon. DR.. John
Miller. who had been selected as ref
cree. refused to act i'm that capacity
and the match was called off. much TO
the surprise of the fans. In the light
Of DEVELOPMENTS concerning the match,
however, it appears to have been a
q good thing that this action was taken,
as the public was protected thereby.
Many rumors have been circulated
I'm Calumet relative to the match. some
Of them being. with good foundation
and others having no foundation. 1t
appears. however, that the copper
country wrestling fans were about to
receive a good sized lemon" when de-
velopments prevented a realization of
the plans made for the match. When
DIR. John Miller refused to act i'm the
capacity of referee, Person and the in
terests he represented, and Lehto's
J. mayer failed to agree upon a substi-
tute and the contest was called off.
Person claimed to have been willing to
go on with any referee, while DR.. II.
II. ROunovara, acting for Lehto, re-
fused to let the match proceed with
any other official.
Or. MiIler's Statement.
When asked today his reason for
declining to offlciate, DIR. Miller said,
ION Friday night and Saturday morn
ing became convinced that an under
standing Of some kind existed between
the wrestlers of which l was not
aware, and which | did not believe to
be exactly straight.
The heavy betting upon the outcome
Of the match was not reassuring and | |
decided to get the men together early |
Saturday morning if possible, to ques-
ton them, and If arrangements were |
as ! suspected. to decline to referee !
was unable to bring the men together
and about noon decided to have moth
ing To do with the match"
DIR. Miller would not confirm the re-
port that he had been offered money
for decision favorable to either man.
Person Agreed to Lose.
Chris Person of Duluth. one of the
principals of the affair, explained be-
fore witnesses that he had agreed to
lie down for two straight falls to Lehto
but that he intended to double cross"
Lehto and wrestle his best. In some
manner the circumstances leaked out,
and Persons friends many OF whom
We're from Hancock and Houghton,
made a number of heavy wagers upon
ue outcome. almost all of the money
Oelng covered by Lehto's friends i'm
calumet Person claims the friends of
Lehto in Calumet feared this outcome
ana called the match off on this ac-
count. Person expressed himself as
"llllhg to wrestle with any referee.
even agreeing to appear with DIR. H. II.
hounovara, Lehto's manager as off,
clal hrst declaring all bets off.
Fefson announced his intention OF
starting suit against DIR. Rounovara
'he promoter of the match to recover
o'"lages for expenses said to have
Peh encountered i'm arranging the
"a'ch' and for his share of the gate r
receipts. The Duluth man claims to :
nave carried out his part of the con-
uacI even To going to the Palestra
winch he found to be locked.
An Agreement Existed.
Ut IL. II. Rounovara. of Calumet. =,
VINO represented Lehto i'm the arrange
"ehts for the match was seen this
morning and talked freely concerning
:" Ut Rounovara said. Seeing that :.
" Miller refused To act as referee we =,
AZ" 'hat we would have been forced to
"'eept as an official some one who was !,
UNFAIR or partial to Person"
~ houhovara admitted when aues-
NV"eu that an agreement existed :
""ereDy Lehto was to win the match.
also that instead of dividing the nurse &c
~ PVT cent OF the net receipts to the .
y, ,'""er ana 20 per cent to the loser. -
Nv articles of agreement stipulated
ss", Ferson was to receive as per cent y,
u the gross receipts and Lehto 55 per u
.ent' and that the latter should meet ~
'"e Incidental expenses. 70
Much Money on Lehto. :.
- Rouhovara estimated that be- .,
,"een $4,000 and $4,000 had been wa -
,.''u upon the outcome of the contest :,
- upper country people almost all
/, Tue money bet upon Lehto." said DIR :.
,, ~ was upon the written un- =.
49, s'a"ding that the copper country -
re o" was to win two falls and II Lehto -
~. upon decision. his hackers would ~
D D VIM According to DIR. Rounovara IN
ersohs plan was to wrestle his hest ny
VIC wa II he found that Lehto was the bet oo
,,, man Person was to commit foul :"
u'er the first fall, so that Lebto would Ia
-, -. 'ne decision on foul. instead OF
, ~, Two falls thus saving the money
~. nad been wagered on Person.
Ut Rounovara stated that he would
pa. oeen willing to let Lehto wrestle Jo
n. III both men upon their merits. ~ eli
,n,. %,ler had been referee. as he felt ri
o,a's '"at Miller would render fair de- s,
''ons' but he would NOT conson, 90 o.,