The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-10-21
JACK JOHNSON HIDES;
. LIFE UNSAFE IN CHICAGO
Friends Urge Him to Flee the
Country if He Would
A.. Avoid Death.
KILLING OPENLY PLANNED
Mayor Seeks Excuse to Rid City
of Him, Police Fear
Race War.
KILLING OPENLY PLANNED

CHICAGO. Oct. 2o.--Jack johnson kept
himself carefully secluded to-day. pre-
sumably in the rooms above his cafe
| and his bodyguard stationed In the
saloon below and at his mothers homo
turned all questloners away with word
that johnson would see nobody
Telephone calls failed to bring him to
the telephone.
1t Is said he has been shot, but no
one knows whether or not that Is so.
Following his rough experience Satur-
day afternoon. when a mob Of a thou
sand persons threatened to lynch him,
johnson realizes his life Is not safe he-c
at any time.
The mob Saturday forced him to
abandon the attempt to get from the
First National Bank to his automobile
In front and ne lodged out Of another
entrance and escaped in a taxicab.
Last night he was much in evidence
at his cafe, which was crowded. He
remarked that the advertisement was
bringing fine business to his cafe, but
to-day he apparently realized that in
those crowds there might be some one
who would take shot at him.
He has received many warnings by
telephone. by letter and personal mes
sengers to the effect that plans are be-
Ing made to kill him. These plans are
openly discussed on the cars. In saloons
and everywhere that men congregate
and everybody believes It probable John
son may be assassinated.
Mayor Harrison says he is seeking
some legal excuse that will permit him
to close up Johnson's cafe and drive
him from the city.
Tho authorities realize that II John
son Is assassinated or an attempt made
to kill him It will precipitate a race war
extremely difficult to handle. Trouble
already is breaking out on street cars
here where the races mix. Hence the
desire of the authorities to get johnson
out Of the city.
His friends. realizing the designs upon
his life. are urging him to forfeit his
$500 bond to the Government in the
Lucille Cameron case and fleet Europe,
as he would not he safe anywhere in
this country at present.
The fact that johnson could not be
seen to-day lends color to the rumor
that he was shot during an alteration
above his cafe at 2 o'clock this morn
ing.
The story Is said to have leaked out
when calls were sent by telephone for a
physician and the affair described to
him.
According to this story johnson wa.
shot In the leg by a ncgress. but the
wound was slight.
When he appeared in the afternoon
the story was dismissed as untrue. but
to-day II was revived and found general
credence.
The Government claims to have a
clear case against Johnson under the
Mann white slave act. II Is not claimed
he actually brought Lucille Cameron
across the Minnesota State line. but
that an agent acting under his instruc-
tions. brought the girl from another
State.
The feeling against Johnson has
grown exceedingly bitter because Of his
contemptuous references to white wo-
men In general and his statement that
he could get any white woman he
wanted" Another boast in defiance Of
the Government was that President
Taft was merely the President of the
United States while he Johnson) was
the champion OF the world.
Based upon the rumor that he had
been shot and fatally wounded by
brother Of the Cameron girl. offers OF
financial help for the defence continue
to pour in from the South.
The girl has no male relatives. 20 far