South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-23
DEMPSEY WANTS
CHARGES PR0BED
Heavyweight Champion Asks
Boxing Official to Con-
duct Inquiry.
By Associated Press

NEW YORK, Jan. 22.-Jack
Dempsey, heavyweight champion OF
the world. has asked that an Off
cal investigation be made OF the in
formal charges that he was a draft
dodgsr during the world war. The
request was made In a telegram re-
eeived Thursday BY Mai A. J.
Drexei Biddle. president OF the
army. navy and civilian boxing
board. which 70 Is understood. will
conduct the inquiry asked in the
near future. Dempsey points out fin
his telegram that the A " G. y. b.
issued a professional boxers license
20 him Just prior % the match with
Jess Willard, which certified that
he had a clean and hOnOrab bic rec
ord as a professional boxer and that
he had the full sanction and ap-
provai OF the board. Dempsey re-
ceived license number two the first
card going to Willard who then was
champion.
Denies Charges.
The present champion states that
ho followed implicitly the lnstruc-
tons given him by the representa- p
tires or the government I'm draft
matters and denies that ne was a
draft dodger. He offers TO present
himself personally before the board
o. 20 submit a complete statement
o his war activities I'm affidavit
form and agrees 90 abide uv the
final decision OF the board and its
findings.
The a ~. c.. r. Il. has announced
that Dempsey's request viii De re-
ferred 10 the arbitration commit
tee o. that organization for decision
as 20 whether such inquiry should
Dee undertaken II f. stated infor-
mally that the Investigation will be-
made by special committee includ-
ing several prominent officers OF
the American legion If they viii
consent 20 serve.
Dempsey's telegram follows
Last June you gave me a boxers
license, number two. which certified
ON the face of 10 that had "A clean
and honorable record as "a boxer.
Since that time "a few posts of
the American legion. who are not i'm
any way familiar with my record,
adopted resolutions condemning me
as a draft dodger' in the late war,
AN indictment wholly unsupported
by facts.
Follows Instructions.
What I have done. has been to
follow implicitly the instructions as
given to me BY the representative
OF the government The slogan al
that time was Follow the Govern
ments instructions That applied
TO me as to every other citizen I'm
the United States and / was carry
ing out their orders and abiding by
their Instructions and 7 was not "a
draft dodger' as these few legion
posts have declared and base their
decision on false evidence through
persons who are trying 30 put same
over TO further their own selfish in
forests. Am / 90 be crucihed and
condemned because ] followed the
orders as given to me by the gov
ernmcut?
This Is an appeal TO YOU as a
body OF thorough and honorable
sDOrtsmen whose aim has always
been Justice and fairness and a
square deal for ALL 10 Investigate
this matter thoroughly and if ] am
innocent OF the charge OF draft
dodger. clear me publicly before the
world. and If I am guilty condemn
Iuc.
81 will either present my self per
sonally for examination by your
board. or submit TO YOU. upon tele-
graphic request a complete state
mcnt OF my activities during the war
iu affidavit form and 7 agree to
abide 10y your dnal decision i'm the
matter as TO be misJudgcd without
q chance to prove my Innocence is
cruel. and 7 feel that your honor
able board viii at least see that
Justice viii be done Go me-