Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-22
TEX RICHARD LOST
..oN FILM CONTRACT.
He TELLS PR0BERS
'Fixers" Failed to Make
Good, Promoter Says
HoIdridge Recalled Briefly
and Brands Burns as Liar

WASHINGTON. March 20.-Aft-
ger hearing Tex Richard, fight pro-
moter, tell them he got bunked"
when he went into the deal with
Jap Muma, Will A. Orr and the mys-
ferrous like" Martin to show the
rpentier-Dempsey fight pictures
and escape prosecution, the Daugh-
erty investigating committee today
turned to verifying the testimony of
G. o. Holdridge, department of
Justice agent.
Holdridge, in previous testimony to
the committee, quoted Muma as haV-
ing said Attorney General Daugh-
erty had told him (Muma) that If
the IDEAL" went over he (Muma)
ought to get a big cut out Of it,
at least so per cent.
Holdridge presented his statement
to the committee with an attest by
Thomas Spellacy, former depart
ment of justice agent as absolutely
| true.
When the committee got Spellacy
ON the stand today he confirmed
some of Holdridge's testimony but
made a change in Holdridge's ac-
count of Muma's report of the al
legged conversation with the attor-
ney general.
Never Checked Up
"As l remember Muma's state.
ment." Spellacy said, it wasn't that
Mr.. Dau9herty suggested so per
cent cut, but that he thought Muma
was interceding for Tex Richard and
that Daugherty said Muma ought to
get an interest for that. Muma said
he told Daugherty he was going to
get an interest"
Richards Testimony
Richard told of knowing Jap
Muma, New York representative of
Edward b. Mclean. Washington
publisher, and Fred c. Quimby, film
producer, who have been connected
with the picture deal"
Richard said he could not remem
Der ever meeting Jess Smith, dead
friend of Attorney General DauSher-
ty, but had known Muma for ten
years.
Senator Wheeler Democrat, Mon
fana the committee prosecutor, was
back on the job today and examined
Rickard. He arranged with +. G.
Quimby, of New York, to film the
bout, Richard said, and knew it was
violation of law to transport the
pictures into states, but intended to
-l,1 In
The film contract, dated June 80,
1921, was on the stationery of the
Cincinnati Enquirer.
A second contract produced by
Richard provided for a 20 per cent
share to Orr and Is per cent each
to Muma and Martin.
Richard denied that the start of
the exhibitions the plan contemplate
ed initial showing of the films before
ex-soldiers and then to have small
fines imposed on "goats" to permit
further exhibitions.
Muma opened negotiations with
him, Richard said, about June 10,
1921, for showing the films outside
New Jersey. Many details Of the
previous accounts of the deal
were corroborated by Richard, in
GLIDING exhibition OF the pictures
at McLean's home here. He also
!. laid there was a man named Mar
Tim" interested in the transaction.
r. Richard told Of the contract by
which Muma and Martin, who sign
ed. were to get so per cent of the
proceeds. w. A. Orr's 20 per cent,
Rickard said, was to come from the
interest of Muma and Martin.
"Muma told me he thought he
could get a law passed to distribute
the pictures" Richard explained
Get a law passed?" Senator
Wheeler exclaimed. You know he
didn't, and yet you agreed by con-
tract to give him so per cent Of the
receipts from the picture?
Yes
Fined i'm Two States
Richard told of knowing Alfred
the picture deal" and also identi-
fled as a friend OF Mr.. Daugherty.
Illinois and New York were the
only states where he was fined,
Richard said, adding that Quimby
ATTENDED to- sales for exhibition in
other states.
Richard submitted a statement of
proceeds from the pictures, show
ing that fines were included as
expenses" of promotion. Richard
said he paid percentages of the
profits to Muma, Orr and Martin
while knowing the pictures were be-
ing shipped in violation of law.
Rickard produced a contract dated
June &c between himself. Muma
and Il. n. Martin" providing the
latter were to receive so per cent
OF the gross receipts il a law were
81,
Ing of the film. This contract, Rick
ard explained, was replaced because
they weren't delivering the goods"
when I'd Muma first alike the
picture to Washington" asked Sem
ator Wheeler. Was it to promote
legislation
"No. he said it was for a part T."
did you make practice of let
ting these out to parties?"
II did t8 soldiers in hospitals ana
other places"
Senator Wheeler asked if that sort
OF showing wasn't part of the
scheme by which the exhibitors in
each state were arrested and fined
once. Richard said he didn't know
OF that.
After paying his fine for shown 9
the picture befoSs soldiers on Station
island, -acKard said he was advised
by his LAWYER chat he could go
ahead elsewhere in New York,
where the gross receipts, Rickard
said. were $4,000 and the expenses
sS3.7S4.
why should you give IN 1o per
cent TO Mama and Martin and TWEEN
~ per cent to Orr?" asked Senator
Wheeler. You got bunked. didn't
you?"
Yes, 7 was" lie answered.
Muna and Martin told him, Rick
ara said, that they could get .
bin through in two weeks to legaliZe
the film exhibitions, but RickarG
denied that he was told Muma had