PUG JOHNSON

NZ Truth, Issue 94, 6 April 1907, Page 3

PUG JOHNSON

Bashes His Manager and is Fined

a fiver.

The strained relations which have existed between colored pug Jack Johnson and his manager, L. S. McLean' (says the Sydney " Sportsman" of March 21) culminated m a smash on Monday night. It appears that -McLean had issued a Supreme Court writ for £112 against Johnson over some' financial dispute, and hearing that Johnson was about to leave tho State, McLean took out. a ca ra summons to block him from clearing cut. At 6.30 on Monday night McLean met Johnson m King-street, near the Commercial Hotel, and " planked " a , sheriff's officer on to him. There are conflicting statements as to what actually transpired conversationally; Anyhow, Johnson gave McLean a. terrible bash on the- boko, breaking it. The result w,as the colored pug w?is taken to the Water Police Station, and subsequently "bailed' out, and McLean was conveyed to his hotel at Botany, where he Is now laid up.

* The following morning Johnson appeared at tho Water Police Court, charged with occasioning .actual bodily harm to Allen Alexander McLean. Johnson looked serene and stately, but there was no appearance of prosecutor McLeanj who was represented vy Mr. Tress.

Mr. Levien who appeared for Johnson, said it had been agreed to alter the charge to ono of " common assault." The charge, by consent was then altered.

Mr. Tress then explained that the assault arose out of certain pecuniary claims, and Johnson was m the , company of a sheriff's officer when the row took place. Johnson went to naarket, agd bashed; Mao on the boko, which was broken. Consequently he couldn't attend Court.

Mr. Levien, m stating that Johnson pleaded guilty, said there was a legal break up between Johnson and McLean, presumably they had not been absorbing soft stuff. Anyway, so he alleged, McLean called Johnson a big Mack b , whereupon, the nigger knocked him down. Johnson, quoth Harry, was like most pugs, a quiet inoffensive man. Mr. Smithers: But Mr. Tress says he broke McLean's nose.

"Oh, well," replied Mr. Levien, quite cheerfully, " that'll soon be mended."

Amidst the laughter that ensued Mr. Tress was heard to say that his client absolutely denied giving any provocation.

Mr. Smithers observed that when one man called another' opprobrious names, he -was liable to get fattened out. . "Yes," said Mr. Levien, poising his brawny arm, " That's what I'd do." Mr. Tress said he believed Johnson had tied up his bundle* and was oif to America by tho Ventura that day. Then Mr. Levien broke up the Court by suggesting that McLean must have had a weak nose.

Mr. Smithers find the sable beauty £5, and £1 Is costs, m default two motiths' hard labor, at the same time remarking he couldn't make the p'enalfyless. The-fin-v w£s at once .^idj. and Johnson •went/ovit, evidently reckoninj^he had' got off cheap. • fe iXankeftland, whither ..he is going; ; be'd have 'got a time for, his brutal pleasantry. :-.••.:

(By Upper-Cut)

The Wellington Boxing Association has I nominated the whole of the retiring mem^' bers of the New Jutland Boxing Council i for election m May.- The Association was I not very tweet on threo ox four of the

Councillors, but it went on the principle that it was better to have the devil it knew than the devil it didn't.

•The annual meeting of the New Zealand Boxing Council is convened for. May 2nd m. Christohurch. The importance of the business to be transacted is not likely to convulse the boxing world.

R. L. Marks, the well-known light-weight boxer, who has been seen m the local roped arena on several -occasions went Sydneywards by tho Warrimoo a fortnight ago. The Taranaki lad may remain for good m the N.S.W. metropolis. Marks who carried with him a letter of introduction to the Wellington Boxing Association's representative m Sydney (M. W. F. Corbett) is a very estimable young fellow and his likeable disposition is bound to earn him many friends across the Tasman.

A young fellow named Kelly, who claims to have some skill as an exponent of the fistic art, arrived from Sydney a few weeks ago, accompanied by has brother. The Kelly's have, I believe, taken up their ■residence at Otaki. The younger is anxious to get on a match with Tina Tracy, if it could be arranged. Hitherto his performances have been confined to the amateur

arona.

The Wellington Boxing Association has fixed up its annual meeting for April 15th.

Bill Squires, the champion heavyweight boxer of Australasia, and Jack Johnson, the coloured heavyweight champion boxer of. the world, were passengers to San Francisco by the s.s. Ventura from Auckland on Monday week. Squires had been m Auckland for several days, and Johnson was a' through passenger from - Sydney. The Ventura should hardly be big enough for these two pugs, seeing that most Australian people regarded Squires' get: Out for America as a run-away from the buck-nigger, who looks as if he chased Bill up. Things ought to hum when the pair land m " Frisky."