The sun., 1919-02-08
.DEMPSEY'S ABSENCE
MENACES BIG FIGHT
Wizards Challenger Said to
Have Been kidnapped"
by Jack Curley.

According TO an Associated Press des-
patch from Excelsior Springs, Mo. Jack
Dempsey. who expects to oppose Jess
Willard for the heavyweight champion
ship OF the world, arrived there ysster-
day from Salt Lake City, and said he
would leave to-day or tomorrow for
New York 20 sign the articles of the
fight to be held on July 4.
The above Is the first authentic news
from Dempsey In several days.
Notwithstanding the message from the
fighter reports are rife to the effect that
all is not serene In the camps Of the
promoter and the managers.
A significant incident that came 10
light during the day was the announce
ment that Jack Curley, who, 1t Is as
serted, is the real manager OF Demp-
sey. started for the West last Tuesday,
the day on which Tex Richard declared
that he would meet Jack kearns and
talk over a purse for Dempsey.
The natural deduction from this in
cidcnt is that Curley. alleged 10 be
the real manager of Dempsey. has be-
come irritated over the attitude OF
Kearns and IL making an effort to take
complete control of the fighter. Richard
already has announced that he would
have no business relations with Curley
In reference to Dempsey.
Seeks Increase in Purse.
From the West also comes the rumor
that John tho Barber, who has been
trying for some months past to establish
legal claim TO Dempsey's services. has
Joined forces with Curley In an effort to
compel Richard to Increase the amount
offered TO the Utah man for the fight
with Willard.
After Dempsey broke away from the
guiding hand OF John the Barber Kearps,
who at the time was junior partner In
the Arm of J. Curley & Co.. took charge
Of the fighter and handled him in his
matches, although II was declared that
Curley was the man who had lured the
boxer away from Reisler. Curley de-
MED this assertion. and he followed
Dempsey about the country and watched
hun in his bouts. apparently as a dlsin-
terested spectator.
kearns al every opportunity proudly
announced that he was the sole manager
OF Dempsey. and continued 20 travel
about with the fighter. II II should be
proved that Curley and Reisler now have
combined and that Reisler will drop all
litigation for an interest in TIE fighter Il
means that Kearns will be shelved as
manager and that Rickard will have TO
get a new fighter to meet Willard or else
revise his figures as accepted by kearns.
II does rot appear that the action Of
kearns met with the approval OF Curley
and that the latter's trip West was
taken solely with the object of prevent
ing Dempsey reaching this city and sign
Ing the articles OF agreement.
Dempsey still Missing.
Although Kearns has made three an
would arrive here on specified date
and would meet Richard at a specified
hour and sign the articles the fighter
failed 70 appear.
Ore excuse advanced for the non-sp-
pearance Of Dempsey was that he was
delayed by an action for divorce against
His wife In Salt Lake City.
The next explanation was that Denrp-
sey's brother was III with inhYenza and
that the fighter had contracted the COM
plant.
The fact that Richard took 10 stook IN
these excuses and had his suspicious that
Dempsey was detained by Jack Curley
was evident from his declare ..on that
when Dempsey signed articles NJ agree
rnent he would have TO submit proof that
Kearns, and not Curley, was his man
eseT.
Kearns in addition 10 arranging for
Dempsey TO fight Willard had also signed
the fighter FOR a six weeks tour on the
theatrical circuit. w.ch was to begin
next Monday.
kearrs was reached by telephone al
Long Branch yesterday and said ne
would arrive in New York Monday. He
said he was te!egraphng to many points
IN the West try Ing to get into touch with
Dempsey, but up 10 a late hour had not
been successful. and is much worried.