Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-06-27
Former Worlds Heavyweight
Boxing Champion Would
Join Army
is FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE
EXiled From United States
Black Longs to Come
Back

While the sporting world is being
entertained with the legal and man
aEcrial entanglements Of Fred Full
ton and Jack Dempsey, there comes
a plaintive note from far Off spain
10 the effect that Jack johnson, per-
haps the greatest heavyweight fight
er Of modern times, Is pining to re-
turn to this country so that he may
again foregather with and enjoy the
friendship of his own people.
The heart of Lii Artha IL sad
within him. He Is longing to come
back to the kind OF folks that he
knows The hot-blooded Spaniards
and the emotional Frenchmen do
not appeal to the laughter loving
johnson. lie has tried for years to
be contented over there and has
failed.
Fears White Slave Charge.
Now he wants to do anything that
Will re-esta hlish himself In the good
graccs of the authorities of this
country, He still fears the outcome
of the charges that hang over him
for his escapades with white women.
As means for making amends
for his past johnson has made n 7re-
quest that he be allowed to enlist In
one OF Uncle Sans companies OF
colored fighting men. The former
heavyweight champion is so humble
about 1t that he says he will serve
as a buck private. He asks no ia
vors, only the privilege OF proving
his intention to be a good citizen of
the United States hereafter.
Whether the giant negro Is really
sincere In his motives cannot be
stated at this time. However, the
government authorities apparently
do not think so. Reports say John
son Is not wanted in-the army.
Slavery Charge bar TO Service.
johnson came back into the lime
light recently through a letter he
wrote 20 Capt +. s. Laguardia con-
gresham from New York, who re-
Gently was in Spain in connection
with war work. In that communlca-
tion johnson said he wanted to en-
list The charge OF white slavery,
however Is sufficient to bar him
from government service.
johnson has been fugitive from
justice since 1912, Previously to
that time he had figured In several
escapades with white women but IL
was not until his wife, who formerly
was well-bred white woman, com
mitted suicide in Johnson's Chicago
cafe. that the authorities began TO
get after the negro. He was ar
rested and released on bail of $780,
900, He forfeited this amount when
he left the country to escape prose
cution. Since that time johnson
has been living in France and Spain.
In the later country he has made
living in various ways He tried
bull fighting once hut the sport was
not to his liking. Then he conducted
a small cafe. Recently he has been
debating his comments to "A Madrid
newspaper writer and they have been
published under Johnson's signature.
All reports agree that the giant
black ls practically penniless His
last white wife Is said TO have ran
away, taking what few diamonds
LII Artha had saved from his
wrecked fortune. A month ago
Johnson re-entered the ring. He on
gagged in n four-round battle with
Blink McClOskey formerly a third
rate middIeweight Of Buffalo. n. Y.
johnson had agreed to stop Nc
closkey In four rounds or forfeit the
entire purse of $4,000 He failed !
to do so. The negro Is now 40
Sharkcy n Bartender.
While on the subject OF heavy |
weights It may be interesting TO cite |
the fact that johnson Is not the only |
notable figure in that division who Is T,
now feeling the pinch OF adversely |
Tom Sharkey, in years past dan |
gcrous contender for the worlds |
championship. and at one time re- |
puted. to be worth t250,000. Is broke !
in New York. lie Is working as "a |
Sharkey has not been active in |
ring affairs since 1904. when he |
fought Jack Monroe for six /
rounds at Philadelphia. Following |
this match Sharkey retired from |
the game and prepared TO spend |
the remainder Of his days in the |
comfort that his hard earned wealth |
would bring. He opened up Il gilded |
cafo in Gotham. and for time he |
appeared 10 prosper Then he be- |
came involved in bad investments |
and the greater part Of his money |
vanished that way Then ne moved |
10 Los Angeles. where he again con-
tinued IN the saloon business, but