The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-03-21
Promoter
'Bunked' on
Film Deals
Testified He Was Promised
Enactment of Law Legaliz-
ing Transportation of
Pictures.
Shows Signed Contracts

Washington, March 20.-More
reels of the famous fight film deal
were run off today before the Daugh-
erty investigating committee by Tex
Rickard, promoter, and Thomas G.
spellacy, a former Department of
Justice agent.
Their testimony partly corroborated
and partly conflicted with previous
stories told the committee. In his
nightly statement summing up the
days development, Attorney General
Daugherty declared that Rickard had
"exonerated' him from failure to
prosecute film exhibition, and that
Spellacy's testimony mainly was
"hearsay."
Rickard. in two lively hours on the
stand. told of his part in the contract
for widespread exhibition of the
Dempsey Carpenter fight films in
1921, but said he had been "bunked"
by his associates. had made little
money and had been twice fined for
his part in the exhibition.
Spellacy confirmed generally the
statement of Gerald .. Holdridge, an.
other former Department of Justice
agent, regarding the story told them
by Jap Muma. and its involvement of
a Daugherty. Edward NJ Mclean. the
% hi Hell,
He quoted Muma as saying Daugh-
erty suggested that Muma should get
a cut" in the profits Of the exhi-
bitions. but disclaimed Holdridges
version. that the attorney general
suggested a so per cent "cut."
MULA FAILS TO APPEAR
DESPITE PROMISE MADE.
Muma became an even more inter-
esting figure tonight through futile
efforts OF the committee to locate him.
He failed to respond today when his
name was called, although Senator
Wheeler, democrat, Montana, in
charge Of the testimony, said Muma's
lawyer had promised his appearance.
Process servers now are on a fresh
hunt for him, and Senator Wheeler
expects him before the committee
shortly.
Rickard said that Muma, telling of
influence" in Washington, suggest sl
exhibition Of the fight films upon as
surances that a law would be passed
forthwith. making their display legal.
Aa
weeks. Rickard said he was assured.
but said that on this. as well az other
promises. he was ''bunked."
Il got bunked. that's ALL" was his
only explanation of the promises of
legislation. when senator's expressed
|amazement that he considered them
seriously.
RICHARD PRODUCES
WRITTEN AGREEMENTS.
They did not do anything for us"
he said, regarding Muma and his as
sociates. we got no protection and
got nothing and they got their money
without doing anything"
Rickard said he had nothing TO do.
except receive his share of the
profits. with the film exhibitions out
side OF New York and Illinois. where
he was fined $1,000 and $500. respec-
lively. He denied any conspiracy"
In the agreement, but presented two
contracts eorroborating the agreement
previously testified to. He and Fred
|C. Quimby. New York film producer.
we're the parties on one side. with
Muma. Ike Martin and VIII A. Orr
on the other. each group receiving
90 per cent OF the proceeds.
In addition to developing the fight
film transaction, the committee today
received several bundles OF kilograms.
some between Roxie Stinson and Jesse
smith, some relating to Attorney Gen
eral Daugherty and his brother, and
some from Texas regarding oil af-
fairs. None was said TO be OF great
Importance.
MISS STINSON'S TESTIMONY
CORROBORATED { BY WIRES.
The Jesse Smith -Roxie Stinson tele
grams were said to corroborate Miss
Stinson's testimony, that she and
Smith were in frequent communica.
Inn