JOHNSON IN GAOL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1096, 7 April 1911, Page 8

JOHNSON IN GAOL.

• PLEADS GUILTY "BY MISTAKE." Jack Johnson has had the most unpleasant, of his many unpleasant experiences in San Francisco. He has (as the, cable stated) been sent to gaol for 25 days. Johnson conducted' his own case, and when his punishment was recorded by the judge ho appealed. He had been smiling very broadly during the hearing of tho police officer's evidence, and,, incautiously, had-pleaded guilty, meanwhile ostentatiously displaying a bundle of notes with which-to pay his fine. 'When he heard jthat-he was to go to gaol the smile canW right off his face, and his mouth closed with a snap. Johnson was an extremely mad man for a moment or two. Then he said to the judge, "Can I appeal, sir?" ■ , . "No," replied the judge, who.was now doing all the smiling. "You, conducted your own case, and you advised yourself badly. You cannot appeal after pleading guilty. More than that, you have violated all your promises to desist from speeding. Go to gaol." The coloured pugilist departed from the Court a sadder but a wiser man. He says he will never plead guilty again. Arrangements have been made by his wife arid other friends to get him special accommodation at the county gaol, and his food will bo taken to him from an adjacent restaurant. Chickens, champagne, and water-melons will comprise tho major part of Johnson's diet. He says he'd have been unhappy without chickens, and he means'to pass away the time by starting on a- work which lie has long thought of writing, dealing with his ex- | periences in and out of the ring.