The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-10
EX-BRICKLAYER
SAVES BEECHAM
IN BANKRUPTCY
Friend Of COvent Garden
ImpresariO Averts His
Financial Ruin.
OFFERS 100000 CHECK
Reverses of Noted Conductor
Said to Be Due to Gener-
osity Toward Music.
OFFERS 100000 CHECK

Special Gable Despatch to THE HERALD.
Copyright, 1890. oy THE New YonK HERALD.
LONDON, Oct. Sir Thomas Beech
am, baronet. conductor and pro-
moter of much OF the grand opera
London has had at Covent Garden,
and founder. leader and large con-
tributor to several orchestras. has been
rescued from the bankruptcy into
which his own generosity toward music
had brought him. Incidentally, he was
rescued by a one time bricklayer, who
is now one Of the most important
forces in London's real estate and
financial circles.
Probably few women in the golden
circle of Covent Garden would recog-
nize the name or the person of
Jimmy" White. But this week be-
fore bankruptcy referee counsel an
nounced that a friend of Sir Thomas
Beecham was prepared to sign
check for f100,0 00-enough to pay all
his creditors In full-or would be pre-
pared to sign 1t as soon as the details
could be arranged.
~ 10 HOW iedrHeu tndt the Irlen0 was
Mr.. White. who a few years ago was
boxing promoter, then gravitated into
real estate. and Is now an Industrious
promoter Of many things. He was the
leading spirit on the British commit
zee appointed in 1918 to provide enter
;ainment for American soldiers and
aailn's who came to London on leave.
Jimmy is lone of the best" as they
pay here in the London Sporting Club,
and the first show he arranged for the
"doughboys" and "gobs" was a boxing
night at the club. Then he organized
Sunday evening theatrical shows for
them.
1t is too soon yet to say whether there
will be opera in Covent Garden this
year, as Sir Thomas had intended. but
his friends insist that he will have a
chance to make a new start. Mr.. White
is modest regarding his part In the mat
ter. and insists that It is only part
or a large deal with Sir Thomas for
''soIhe interests am negotiating to
take over" and that when all the
negotiations are finished he will have
all the money he wants"
This deal" Is believed to involve
R1,500,000 in connection with the
Beecham estate, with whose interests
Mr.. White Is by no means unfamiliar,
as he was for many years the adviser OF
Sir Joseph Beecham, the pill manu-
facturer. the father of Sir Thomas
From his youth Sir Thomas was In
terested in music. first in Manchester.
where he founded. endowed and con-
Quoted an orchestra. Naturally he grav.
itated toward opera. In recent years he
has been to London almost tho entire
equivalent to the entire board OF the
Metropolitan Opera In New York. and
any of those New York men could tell
what that means financially.
Covent Garden was especially unsuc-
cessful last season with company
which. despite Sir Thomas's efforts,
never appeared to the critics as better
than mediocre. 1t was this season. II
is said which brought on his financial
difficulties When his bankruptcy petit
ton was filed he was able to show that
his interests In his fathers estate still
eubject to his control was more than
sufficient TO meet all his debts In full,
and Mr.. Whites coming into the nitua-
ton Is believed to be in the nature OF
discounting Sir Thomass own prospects
Although Mr.. White has become IA
nous as a promoter and financler only
recently, he has for a long time been
Lnown TO the London public as an owner
Of racing horses and as promoter OF
prize fights. lie was responsible Tor the
f'otation of 100000 worth OF Dunlop
rubber STOCK, DOuEnt tue ilNott ihcae
site in the Strand for 100000. bought
the entire village of Shaftesbury fol
f75.0O0 and carried on the negotiations
for the sale of the Duke of Bedford
Covent Garden estate In the heart Of
London. including the famous market
the opera house, hotels, theatres, &c
for more than fs.0OO0o0. He was said
10 have lost heavily when the JacF
Johnson and Wells fight fell through
but scored on Cesare, who was a winner
at l6 to /.
Asked the secret for making money
Mr. Whites reply was: Never hesi'
tate"
Recently, when trying TO get to din
ner party from his office at Temple
Bar, he could not find a taxicab. There
fore. he offered an omnibus conductor
n mound note II he would make non
stop run to Plccadilly Circus. The con
ductor refused. whereupon Mr.. White
remarked that 1t was worth trying any
way.