Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-13
Issues Signed Statement
Everything Vas All Ar-
ranged for Willard to
Vim Championship
WANTS RETURN FIGHT

Havana. Cuba, March 13.--Jaok
johnson, former heavyweight champion.
in signed statement given TO the AS
sociated Press last night. declared that
his fight with Jess Willard In this city
four years ago was prearranged af-
fair. and that he allowed Willard to
win.
In addition to the sum of $4,000,
entire rights to the moving picture films
In Europe and 80 Ia per cent of the
proceeds from their exhibition IN the
United States and Canada are men
toned by johnson. together with the
promise of aid to settle Johnson's diff
culties with the federal authorities in
Chicago so that the colored pugiIIst
might return there to reclaim his prop
erty and see his mother.
johnson declared in his statement that
1t was arranged that he should lose in
the tenth round, provided willard's
showing was such as to justify It. but
.la. as willard was doing virtually
nothing, lie was forced TO wait The
signal agreed upon was given in tho
twentieth round. johnson states. hut he
waited until the twenty-six round to
give willard an opportunity TO make a
good showing.
Will Claim Title
Inc former champion declares that
unless willard agrees TO fight him with
III reasonable time he will claim tho
"orIus ute. He signed his statement
Jack johnson. champion"
Colonel d Estrampes former Congress-
man, who is backing Johnson, stated
t"at Johnson is willing to battle Willard
ahywhere In the United States. the pro-
ceeds to go TO the Clark Griffith hat
and ball fund, or to any charitabIo in
stitution ~
,Coionel d EEtrampes has wired Bat"
Masterson, of New York, asking for the
! "duresSes OF Dempsey and Fulton. with
'ne luea OF arranging a match in Hs =
Naha between either Of them and John
son. DEstrampes says in his cable
gram that johnson Is disposed TO defend
me worlds championship against either
Of these men.
The Statement
Inc statement, in part. follows:
To arrange the match Jack Curlev
came to London from New York, He
asked me If I were willing to fight
willard, and / said 7 would if ne
Ssse Ssst me me my price. ! though, could
he didn't wan want tn that. " told TlHrlsM carIeS sS'q
would make the match.
When ready to leave London,
,nnre,, wired CurleX for a certain sum Of
1t went on and began TO bother me.
and I spoke to my wife. who advised
me me not to do it; but I told her that
| II | were going to lose Id send her
! word in time to get out.
-, The reason I said that was because
| mere was more money coming to me
and | did not want to lose until 7
I / asked for and guaranteed that they
would get me out of trouble in Amer
lea. the most important thing for me.
Then we figured on the best round
j TO lose in and agreed upon the tenth.
4 They were to give the word in the
! first three or four rounds IL Willard
could make a good showing
Received Signal
At the end of the tenth round Will
lards showing had been so poor it
was necessary to continue the fight
further. The signal agreed upon was
given in the twentieth round, but I
considered WIZARDS showing so poor
/ was forced to wait until the twenty
sixth before carrying out the agree
ment.
I was to have all the moving pic
4ure rights in Europe and 33 1-3 per
| cent of those in America and Canada.
When l finally received the, NOV
ing-picture film it was blank one.
] took it to the best film experts in
Europe, but it was found to be WORTH
less.
Everybody knows how anxious I
was to straighten out the little Chi
! cago difference I would have done
almost anything in reason TO be able
to visit my mother, who was old
and feeble.
Unless willard agrees to fight with
in reasonable time. which he should
do to prove. If he can. that he beat
me fairly, I shall claim the worlds
| title.