The Alaska daily empire., 1918-04-25
bhnL.ssXl,epHm %Janles J.CorbeH


Many stories have been told con corning the brutality of John l.. Practically every one is fabrica- tion. The grand old warrior, rough and brusque in manner, took the keenest enjoyment in threatening certain people with annhiliation. That was one of John L.'s ways of extracting joy out of life; by pre- tending to be a bully. But some persons couldn't understand John L.'s ways-and that class came to look upon the great Bostonian as a none too desirable citizen.
 And John l.. had the further mis- fortune during his career to become involved frequently in affairs in which he was cast as the guilty per son although, in reality, he was the innocent victim.
 Some years ago headlines told about John L. attacking little news boy. The story was made to read that John l.. had hit the youngster. But John l.. never struck the boy, even though he went to jail on such q charge. The real facts in the case are these:
 John L. was standing on a street corner talking to friend. The news boy, seeing Sullivan and remember ing that John l.. often in the past had given him $1 for paper, i'm mediately became awake to the pos sbility of more graft" So the boy rushed up, ebowed his way between John L. and his friend and damned a paper into Sullivan's face.
 Want a paper, Mister?" he asked. John L. replied in the negative and then he and his friend moved a little to one side so that the boy was not between them and went on with their conversation. But the youngster was not to be denied. Once more he pushed the papers into Sul- livan's face then be began to tug at Sullivan's coat Then he grabbed the hand of Sullivan and attempted to turn John l.. around so the Bos- tonian would be facing him. This last annoyance eXasperated Sullivan, who worked his hand loose from that of the boy and without even turning around, pushed the boy back.
 At once the youngster let out a yell and began crying that Sullivan had hit him. A crowd began to gather. Naturally it's sympathy was with the kid. Louder and louder shrieked the boy. Finally a police man joined the group. The boy ran to him with the tale that Sullivan had hit him and there was nothing else for the officer to do but to take John l.. to jail.
 Once in a restaurant, John l.. en- gagged in friendly repartee with a | pretty waitress who was serving him and some friends. At the conclusion of the meal John l.. gave the wait ] ress a $5 tip. She thanked him very sweetly and as John l.. was passing by her to go toward the door he gave her a playful pat on the cheek. 1 The manager of the restaurant who had read stories about the alleged brutality of John L. Sullivan, mis- took the pat as blow on the wait ress's face John l.. was hitting a woman! An! So the manager, with out waiting for details or an expla- i, nation, rushed out into the street and yelled for policeman. And that's how it happened that John l.. became accused of hitting waitress. gagged to play the part of Simon Le- gree in one of the Uncle Toms Cabin" shows. For a number of weeks all went we'll But one day, according to the fellow who was playing Uncle Tom," the pugilist became too realistic as the slave driver. The actor claimed that John l., lashed him with entirely too much vim with the whip and went into court and sued John L., charging him with assault. Perhaps the actor needed a little publicity-and he got it at John L's expense.
 Some years before the death of! John L., he was arrested on the charge of striking street car con. ductor. The story was noised around that John l.. was in an intoxicated condition, had boarded car and at once picked fight with the con ductor. But the real facts are at variance, The truth is that John