JACK JOHNSON IN COURT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1024, 28 March 1912, Page 4

JACK JOHNSON IN COURT.

DAMAGES

The adjourned action against Jack Johnson, the champion heavyweight boxer, for damages for breach of contract, was resumed in the London Sheriffs’ Court on February 7. The plaintiff is Mr Frank Macnaghten, of the Macnaghten Vaudeville Circuit, and the claim is for the breach of a contract under which Johnson was to perform for a week each at Bradford, Burnley and Blackburn at a salary of a week. As was the case at the former hearing, the defendant tailed to appear and was not represented. Mr Walter Payne, for the plaintiff, said that at the time the contract should have been fulfilled Johnson had a reputation which was world-wide. He was on the first visit to this country after the great fight in America, which had been boomed all over the world. The result was that Jack Johnson was the biggest attraction one could have got at the time—one of the most important and valuable attractions plaintiff then or ever could have secured. The contract was entered Into on October 4, and Johnson was due to open at Bradford on December 4- Mr Macnaghten had taken the precaution of advertising the visit extensively, with the result that everyone in Bradford was on the tiptoe of expectation for the arrival of this fighting man. Without any warning to Mr Macnaghten, Johnson failed to appear. This was perhaps characteristic of the manHe did not even send the plaintiff a telegram, but went off to Paris on business or pleasure of his own and left Macnaghten entirely “in the cart.” There might, counsel contended, have been a serious riot as the result of the disappointment of the public. The people there were not so easy going as in London, and it might have led to serious disturbance, but fortunately nothing happened. Mr Macnaghten,(recalled) said Johnson fulfilled his contract so far as Huddersfield was concerned, but plaintiff estimated his loss of profit as follows : Bradford C0 > Blackburn Barnsley These were based on the profit made by other big attractions at the same hall. Archibald Fredk. Parnell, book-ing-manager of the Variety Theatre Controlling Company, said that he booked Johnson to appear at a number of their halls.

Mr Payne ; He started by breaking contracts with you, didn’t he ? —His first contracts he broke because he was going to train for the much-discussed Wells fight. Witness added that they afterwards compromised with him, and he signed fresh contracts to appear at eight halls at a later date. The average profits at these towns was/405. . The jury awarded plaintiff