The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-05-22
must Be ANOTHER
JOKE AYERS GENE
WHEN TOLD OF SUIT
I Know Absolutely Nothing Of
Report Former Heavy.
weight Champ Says
LADDERS DISCUSSED CASE
Tunney's Attorney Reveals Affi-
davit Of Mrs. Fogarty Dis
claiming Relations

Brioni, Italy. May 22.-P)-Gene
Tunney. former worlds heavyweight
champion, thinks the suit of Mrs.
Katherine King Fogarty, divorced
wife Of Fort Worth plumber, for
$500, 900 for alleged breach OF promise
to marry must be another joke
The one-timc pugilist, when in
formed that steps toward litigation,
had been taken In Connecticut, said:
II know absolutely nothing of the
report. No! It must be another
joke. When I am sued let my
attorneys worry. have all the wor-
rtes can handle right now here"
The present worries. although un-
explained, were presumed to be q
reference to the rccuperation of his
wife, the formerly Polly Lauder, after
an operation for appendicitis. She
has been progressing favorably.
New York, May 22.-tP)-Unquali-
fled denials Of the claims Of Mrs.
Katherine King Fogarty. who seeks
$500, 900 from Gene Tunncy, have been
made in behalf Of the retired heavy
weight champion and the Lauder
family.
The complaint in which Mrs. Fo-
garty charges Tunney broke his
promise to marry her was in the
hands of Deputy Sheriff Michael r.
Ryan Of Stamford, Conn.,. today for
filing in court at Bridgeport. Conn.
Ryan has placed an attachment on
the 90.acre estate which Tunney owns
near North Stamford. and searched
bank records in Stamford for any ac-
counts the former heavyweight cham
pion might have there.
Floyd E. Barbour, secretary to Mrs.
George H. Lauder, mother Of Mrs.
Polly Lauder Tunney, said:
Ladders Deny Claim
The matter of Mrs. Fogarty was
discussed at length by the Lauder
family before the marriage. It was
decided there was nothing to the
claim.'
Tunneys attorney, George W.
Whitesidc, issued this statement:
Numerous threats of this kind have
been made in the past by this woman,
eliminating III very insistent demands
on her part and threats of damaging
publicity Immediately before Tunney's
last fight for tho heavyweight cham
pionship.
AT that time a very thorough in
yestigation Of her claims was made
and they were found to be without
the slightest merit
Publishes Affidavit
Neither she nor her claim can at
this time be dignified by further conf
nent OH my part. other than to pub
lish the following affidavit by her in
the presence of her lawyer OH July
"a, two days before tho championship
fight:
Katherine King Fogarty, being
duly sworn, deposes and says: made
the acquaintance Of John Gene
'Tunney in Hot Springs In October,
1924. Our relations at all times there
after were such AS in no way to cast
the slightest criticism or discrcdit
upon him.
~ have no claim upon him Of any
AlllO dblO IlCvCI OIu lldtC. ! AAou AIOPNA
to continue to enjoy his friendship,
but that no longer seems possible for
either Of us.
Under No Obligation
In the past have said things
about him to my lawyers that I now
deeply regret. and should my name
ever be used with or without my
knowledge in the future III any way
to reflect in the slightest manner
upon him I wish to make this solemn
declaration under oath that may be
published at any time: that he 5
under no obligation whatsoever to
me and never was. and that his char
acter and conduct to my knowledge
are Of the best
Mrs. Fogarty in her complaint
charges that five days after she OBJ
tanned her divorce in 1925 from John
8. Fogarty. Fort Worth plumbing con-
tractor. she accepted a proposal OF
marriage from Tunney. The COM
plant AYERS that thereafter he again
proposed, and that she us now willing
to comply with the request"