Stuntman’s navy shrinks

Press, 8 April 1978, Page 7

Stuntman’s navy shrinks

NZPA-Reuier Los Angeles

The American motorcycle stuntman, Evel Knievel, says he ~ will emerge from jail next week relatively destitute — down to his las* yacht, only two houses, three speedboats, and stripped of all but his larger jewelled rings. Knievel, who is 39, ending a six-nionth sentence for beating his former publicity man with a baseball bat, revealed this in a letter sent to his new publicity agent from jail. “I have only two houses left’’, the stuntman complained. ‘'One a summer home in Montana and another in Florida for the winter season.

“Last year at this time 1 had sixteen boats, three of them yachts with a value of about five million (dob

lars). I’ve had to sell them all with the exception of three speedboats and one 80-foot (25 metre) yacht. “My navy' is sure decreasing in size.

“I had to sell five mink coats ... all of the other excess diamonds and other stones I had I sold. The large rings were the only ones I held on to.”

Knievel was sent to jail for breaking the arm and wrist of his former publicist, Mr. Sheldon Saltman, last October. He claimed Mr Saltman had maligned him and his family' in a book. In his letter he said he had bee.i able to hang on to some of his property because he had made millions from the sale of Evel Knievel toys.

But while he was in Los Angeles County Jail the company making Evel Knievel toys cancelled production because of the bad publicity the stuntman had received.