The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-02-03

corner of that institution thel
 It Is story that goes back to that great day, memorable In fistic annals, of late June, 1914, when Johnson defended his title of heavy weight champion of the world against Frank Moran at the Velo- drome Buffalo here, and won n de- cision after battering Frank for 20 rounds. The house was crowded. for Jack was great favorite.
 But while the crowd was still ac- claiming him, Jack hustled to the box office to get his purse. Alas. 1t had been attached. Moran could get nothing either. And to this day that gate money remains in the Bank of France, pending m adjustment of bitter controversy between the principals.
 The original purse was for $25.- 000 and Jack estimates that now, with interest, 1t should amount to about Si25,000. He can use tho money; so can Moran, and they are pulling together for n settlement, Jack has put lawyers on the trail in the hope that before long all concerned, who remain alive, will be able to collect.
 Remember?
 There was n good deal of prelim- inary ballyhoo about that fight, which old-timers can recall. It was widely advertised that the purse was for $100,000, for Jack didn't want to let 1t be known that his value as heavyweight champion had deteriorated since his flight from the United States, after nc hadhad jumped bail and crossed n state border, with woman reh- dering him liable to punishment under the Mann act.
 To prove to the sporting public that the purse was n fat one, n check was drawn. signed and photographed. But before tho camera plate had been developed the check, in the presence or all cancerned, was torn up.
 That's the story Of Charlie Me- Carthy, dcbonaire theatrical pro- moter, who died here seven years ago. Charlie had been m actor, and he had fine sense of the dra- matic. Also he was product of California in the days when men didn't like to be, double-crossed.
 Given the Works
 Charlie signed the check, he al- ways admitted, just to help tho game along. He had n distin- guished presence and inspired con fldence. For his good offices he was to receive , per cent Of the gate, he would relate, But just be- fore, the fight he learned that the.o was Il scheme afoot to do him out of his shnrc so he prompt ly ppt an attachment on the works He would confida to K Friends later that he turned up at the fight with a gun handy In case Jack or any body else started to make trouble,
 While the legal question was be- ing argued, the clouds of real war were gathering in the east and everybody in Franco forgot about that fistic affair except the few concerned who were holding the bag. There was no chance to got the courts to act with the Germans approaching Paris,
 Alter n little time had passed 1t became em barrassing for any able bodied man in France to be seen about the streets without unl- form. This made Johnson's position very delicate. In fact, it was suE- gested to him. as the worlds great est fighter, that he ought to get into action.
 Hit Spain
 Jack did, But instead of march ing for the western front, he got into his Hispano-Suiza and made for the Spanish frontier with all speed. He hadn't been back un- til now.
 Mccarthy was always very bit ter toward Johnson and he Swore that he never would allow that purse to be released. He remained obdurate after the war, when at tempts were made to do some thing about it. Mccarthy fell on hard times and did not know pros ity during his later years, but he managed to live pleasantly In Paris where he had host of friends, un- til he died peacefully here Tn 1925 at the age of 7l.
 Hc never forgaVe that attempt to double cross him, as he called it. Otherwise he was a mild-man. nered man. known for his kindli- ness and gallantry, but where Jack Johnson was concerned he would never rclent. He always said he felt sorry for Frank Moran, but 1T he had made 1t posisble for Moran to get his share, Johnson also would have collected.
 The purse was to have been split s60-40 with Jack, of coursc get ting the larger share. The director of tho Velodrome Buffalo, M. Vi- enne as since died, McCarthyS wife who remained in America while he was active over here, Is willing to do all she cun to free th" money, according to Johnson, for natural ly she would collect her usband's sare. All parties are now gener- ously disposed for settlement, and sportsmen here are watching this new attempt, initiated by Johnson to free the money.