Evening star., 1933-06-25
CHAMP IS AROUSED
| BY CRANK LETTERS
$1,000 Also Is Asked From
BuckIey-Children Not
III as Reported.

~ OSTON, June "a F.-Three
X crank" letters that threat
l. ened bodily harm to Jack
Sharkey and demanded
$1,000 from Johnny Buckley, his
manager, were said to have been
the real reason for the heavy
weight champions hasty flight
from his Orangeburg, N. Y. train
ing camp to his palatial Newton
home tonight by Jack Conway, his
legal adviser.
When Sharkey sped away from
his camp, he told his training staff
that he had been notified of the
serious illness of one Of his three
small children. When he arrived
home he found them playing on
their lawn, safe and sound.
Conway, after Sharkey and his wife
had started back over the road to
Orangeburg, said that the first Of the
letters, which were mailed in New Jer-
sey, arrived at the training camp last
Monday. The ether two were delivered
on the following days.
The threats were written in semi
nterate fashion and were branded as
the work Of cranks By New York detec-
| tives who visited the camp. Conway,
who returned from Orangeburg yester-
day, said Buckley was warned by his
police friends to be cautious. Acting on
this advice, the Sharkey camp was
| closely guarded and the champion was
| always accompanied by armed COM
| panions when he was doing his road
| work.
THE titlist, it was said, did not
learn of the threats until this
morning and they so unnerved him
he insisted on hurrying home to gain
| safety. Mrs. Sharkey also left the camp
| on Thursday.
Conway said the first letter was neatly
printed in pencil and read:
Now that this fight of Sharkey more
| to him and you, all we want Is five
grand before this week is over. Other
wise Wen get something belonging to
him before the fight and Sharkey IS
| done.
If you keep quiet, say nothing only
come across we will grant you every
thing will be o. K. and no need to fear
any one belonging to Sharkey will be
| harm.
Otherwise We carry out cur plans
and Sharkey isn't feel like fighting. Also
pay plenty besides. We are pretty fair
giving your chance first. We are well
| prepared and every one belonging to
| Sharkey well covered so its up to you,
Buckley, 5000 in 5-10 bills, so If want
to play fair now is your chance. Next
letter will give instructions where to
pace money, also will be watch from
now till you pay as We know you and
don't make q foolish move"
The second letter, Conway said, was
about the same as the first one, except
it directed Buckley to place the de-
manded $4,000 at "the Reservoir and
Sedwick, by the rock pile under the
rocks"
Conway agreed with Buckley that the
author referred to Reservoir road and
Sedwick street, corner near the
Sharkey home in Newton. The third
letter was a duplicate of the second.
Conway said that Sharkey had been
receiving more than his usual quota
of crank letters since he took up quar-
teFS at Gus Wilson's training camp.
He also recalled that the boxer received
threatening letters in Florida three
years ago before his bout with Phil
Scott. The author of the Florida let
tiers, Conway said, claimed to be a
member of the purple gang Of Detroit
and singled out Mrs Sharkey as the
victim If his demands were not met.
BOSTON and Newton police dis
- claimed knowledge of the latest
threats against Sharkey and the
only official activity was the close guard
on the boxers home, where his children
are being cared for by their maternal
grandparents. Conway, however, said
that it was routine matter for New
ton police to make close and frequent
inspection Of the Sharkey premises dur
ing his absence
He also added that Sharkey's sudden
home coming would not disrupt his
training for next weeks title bout with
Primo Camera in Long Island City.
Conway said that the titleholder reached
the peak of condition several DAYS ago
and that he must cease all but the
lightest kind Of work to avoid going
stale.