Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-07-23
CLAIMS JOHNSON LAID
DOWN FOR WILLARD.
Former Champion Seeking Money for
Quitting, Says a London Editor.

Many attacks on the genuineness of
the Jess Willard-Jack Johnson fight
for the worlds heavyweight champion
ship have been made, but the worst
jolt appears in the latest issue of John
Bull, which has just reached this coun-
try from England Horatio Bottomley,
the editor of the paper, stands by any
disclosure his periodical makes He
charges that Johnson declared that the
fight was a fake, and that Johnson
now is forced to admit it, because he
has not received $4,000, a guarantee
that was promised him for laying down
to Willard. Here is John Bulls story:
We are sorry we have to return to
our old friend. Jack Johnson, of whom
we hoped We had taken a final fare
well after, as we thought, he had been
genuinely deprived of the champion
ship title by Willard in April last.
johnson evidently cannot go straight
and We now put before our readers
certain further facts which will sat
isfy them that this man should not any
longer be tolerated in our country.
They refer to his recent fight with
Willard, and while throwing grave
doubt upon the genuineness Of the
contest, prove conclusively that john
son is a man who should be warned
OFF, from the ring. We are not entitled
to say that there was any compact
with Willard. 1t may be that so far as
he is concerned the affair was straight
and above board and that he fought in
ignorance of the sordid bargain to
which Johnson pleads guilty, but in
view of what We are about to disclose.
some explanation from him would GER
tainly appear to be desirable, and we
need scarcely say that our columns
are open to him for the purpose.
We are not aware Of the date upon
which johnson reached England after
the fight, but he could not have been
here long before he was busy formu-
fnr haU O tn lay
down" to Willard, whom he describes,
from the boxing point Of view, as
merely "a joke" and offers to fight for
a side bet of twenty-five thousand
all and purse money. These admis
sions and challenges are contained in
certain cables sent to New York early
in June. We do not, for obvious rea-
sons. at present disclose the name of
the person to whom they were address
ed. especially in view Of the fact that
he repudiates having been party to any
such dishonest arrangement as that
suggested, although of course johnson
cannot escape from his self confessed
fraud.
The first cable was despatched from
London on June Q. and this is how it
reads:
You signed contract to pay. me fifty
thousand dollars to Jay down to Will
lard, which / did You never kept
yOuT PNOAIASos NOW IOn mus
pay according to contract Litigate all
you like. win put my case before
any court and press in the world
JACK JOHNSON.
We do not know the exact terms,
but 1t is obvious from his next mes
sage that 1t was not OF satisfactory
character, and that his demand was
characterized by a somewhat ugly
name. for on July IL we find him wiz
ing again:
Blacbmail proposition ridiculous.
Want payment first money taken.
Willard as fighter, joke II you con-
Adence his ability to beat me- win bet
twenty-five Thousand. Winner take all
and purse money.
JOHNSON.
Now, as we have so often said, We
have no desire to pursue unduly this
duslzy gentleman. but we DO call upon
him to clear himself. df he can. OF this
latest scandal-or TO clear out
When we exposed him before he first
challenged us to come and fight him
which Is not in our line; then he Of
fered to stake 1000 against similar
sum from US II we could prove the
.genuineness OF the documents which