South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-07-16
COMMISSION PROBING
NEW BOXING SCANDAL
French Body Investigating
Charges That Johnson Tried
to "Frame" Fight.

LONDON, July 16.-Jack Johnson's
name has again been linked with
faxed fighting, and Thursday the
French boxing commission started an
investigation into the charges made
by John Bull papers that the heavy
weight champion of the world paid
Frank Moran to lay down to him in
their recent fight in Paris.
The London Weekly charges that
the colored heavyweight sent for Dan
McKettrick, Moran's manager and en-
tered into an agreement with him
whereby Moran was to get 40 per cent
of the purse, instead of 10 per cent
as was first agreed, Moran TO lose for
this consideration.
The agreement reads as follows:
June p, 1914.
Il hereby agree to divide the re-
ceipts of my contest with Frank Moran
on June 81 on the basis Of 40 per cent
to Moran and 60 per cent to me pro-
vided Moran loses inside of eight
rounds.
(Signed) Jack Johnson
After fight must return this re
ceipt."
According TO the weekly's account
of the negotiations leading up to draw
first insisted on getting so per cent
of the two-thirds share of the gate
receipts, which Vienne. the promoter
of the match allowed the two fighters,
Vienne received the remaining one
third.
To Quit In Eighth.
Dan McKettrick, Moran's manager,
states in the article that Johnson
came to him and offered to give Mo
ran 40 instead Of 10 percent If Moran
would agree to be knocked out in the
eighth round. McKettrick justifies
his acceptance of this proposition on
the ground that the end justified the
means. He was willing to do any
thing TO get Johnson into the ring.
In support of its contention that
Johnson is a crook and should never
again be allowed to fight, the paper
publishes what it states are excerpts
from letters written by Johnson to
McKettrick two days before the fight
and while McKettrick, possessing the
signed agreement, was trying TO avoid
the negro. One of these excerpts is
as follows:
Now Dan, ! must see you TO get
things enlightened out. 1 am going
TO have things o. X. before l put the
gloves on"
Another Scheme.
The story has caused a tremendous
sensation here, but the least astonish-
ing outcome of its publication came to-
night in the Savoy when a well known
American sportsman cOnfided to the
y. S. correspondent a no less amazing
disclosure concerning the fight in
Paris. According to this informant
there was a carefully laid plan TO d0u-
BILE cross Johnson so that he could
not possibly win. Only the fact that
the referee, George Carpenter, devel-
oped cold feet" according to q man
who was on the inside, caused the
plan to fail.
To begin with. the schemers knew
Carpenter was perfectly willing to
meet Moran in a championship con-
test which could easily have been ar
ranged if Moran won the champion
ship. This was the schemers first
and most important bait In addition
however, a cash offer was made "a
Carpenter in his capacity Of referee
Of 81, 500 if he would agree 10 do one
Of three things:
l. Award Moran a decision il Mo-
ran lasted 20 rounds and if Johnson
had not punished him to such an ex-
tent to make such a decision impos-
sible.
2. Call the fight a draw if Moran
was so hopelessly beaten that moth
ing else could be- done.
8. Declare Moran the winner on a
fsul If Johnson violated the French
federation rules by hitting on the
breakaway.