Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-05
KNEWJEFFR|ES UNFIT
Examining Physicians Did NOT
Want Him to Enter Ring.
MORE FACTS ABOUT FAKE
Nevada to, Pass Law in October
Which Will Prohibit
Prize Fights.

NEW YORK. August 5.--WaS JcffrieS
pronounced physically unfit by several
prominent physicians before he entered
the ring to fight Johnson at Reno?
Gradually facts are coming TO light
that would seem 10 indicate that much
interesting information concerning
Jeff's true condition before the fight
was suppressed by the persons who
protitcd financially by holding the
scrap according to schedule. \ local
paper has received a communi lea ton
from man who desires to have his
name withheld. in which il is stated
that in accordance with the law per.
uniting prize fights in the state Of
Nevada, Jcffries and Johnson were both
examined by board of five physicians
DIR. Hood president of the Nevada
board of health. and DIR. West" says
the informant. both found and de-
clared that Jeffries was physically unit
to enter the ring. These physicians
strenuously advised Jeffries not to fight
and frankly told him that he was in
poor condition. Under the Nevada law
the board of examining physicians had
to be unanimous in granting perInis>
sion for the pugilists to proceed. 50
pressure from, all sides was brought
to bear on Drs. Hood and West. 1t was
shown that the amount Of money at
stake was too great to warrant a fizzle
and that Reno wanted the fight for
business reasons AS Jeffres was also
anxious to go ahead and take "A chance.
probably because of a big losers end,
the two physicians were finally won
over after they had been informed that
il Jeffries became weak his seconds or
f1n r-nfn ont Inn FRO
tanning serious injury.
Richard, Corbett. Berger and others
close to JeffrieS knew before he started
for the arena July that he was in poor
condition. but they kept back the truth
because OF the money Johnson was al
lowed to remain i'm ignorance as to JEFF
fries real condition until he learned Il
himself i'm the ring. A new law prohibit
ing prize fights I'm Nevada will go Into
effect in October and will prevent a repe-
titon of this gigantic swindlc. | dent
know whether Gov. Dickerson OF Nevada
knew at the time that Drs. Hood and
West mad pronounced Jeffries UNFIT, but
if he didn't somebody was to blame. IL
he did ii seems rather strange that he
did not prevent the fight himself. in spite
of his friendship for Richard, the chief
promoter"
Gov Dickerson, it will be remembered.
made it clear that unless the fight was
on the level he would promptly inter
fere. If IL Is true according to the above
communication, that two physicians I'm
compliance with the law examined JEFF
fries. found him unfit and then agreed TO
let him fight, sporting men believe there
should be an investigation. There il a
wide difference of opinion among eye
witnesses of the mill to to Jeffries'
physical condition. Some Of them will al
ways insist that he was bordering on
nervous collapse, while others will stout
ly maintain that nothing allied him ex-
cept the inability to come back. Hitherto
not one word has been heard regarding
the examination of Jeffries by the doctors
and the true inwardneSs of each physis
clans verdict. Drs. Hood and West have
made no further statements, but IN View
of the assertions In the above letter II Id
believed they may be willing to throw
some light on this new and unexpected
phase of the controversy.