CHARGES AGAINST JOHNSON.

Otago Witness, Issue 3061, 13 November 1912, Page 92

CHARGES AGAINST JOHNSON.

STRONG FEELING AROUSED

DEPLORABLE REVELATIONS

The following cable messages relating to the charges against Jack Johnson were published in the Sydney Sun last week : Chicago, October 22.

The feeling against Jack Johnson is manifesting itself as strongly as ever. There are people who would shoot the negro or string him up with about as much compunction as they would drown a rat, and knowing this as well as he does Johnson still keeps himself barricaded within his gorgeous cafe. . He is guarded continuously by a dozen of Chicago’s toughest sluggers, but believes that his money will carry him through the storm. The temper of the Chicago people in connection with the abduction scandal was revealed plainly enough yesterday, when an angry crowd hanged a blackfaced dummy, to which was attached a placard with the inscription : “ This is what we’ll do with Johnson.” It was a big gathering that had assembled to witness the mock execution, and the dispersal of the mob by the police was followed by a riot. Lucille Cameron, the 19-year-old girl whom Johnson is alleged to have abducted, reiterates her undying affection for the negro. Bbe declares that he is “a noble man,” and that she will marry him as soon as he is released. The champion told District Attorney Wilkinson yesterday that he was prepared to furnish the £S(XJO bail required for the release of Miss Cameron, who is held as a witness under the White Slave Act, but the offer was refused. Mr Wilkinson gave Johnson to understand that he would not approve of any bond that the fatter might furnish. The Appomatox Club, a negro organisation, calls upon Jack Johnson to explain what he means by a statement he mad© to the effect that he could get any white woman he wanted. The detectives say that they have ascertained that two other white girls lived at Johnson’s apartments previously to his wife’s suicide in the early part of last month. Dr Booker T. Washington, the negro Principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute for Coloured Students, in referring to Johnson to day, said : “ The unfortunate man, with his money, is injuring his own people, who are seeking to uplift themselves. Johnson's action will certainly not meet with the approval of the coloured race. When the sheriffs, with the lawyer representing Mrs Cameron, went to Johnson’s cafe yesterday afternoon to serve subpoenas upon his mother and nine of his employees, the champion became a bit violent. “Throw the lawyer out, or I’ll kill him !” shouted Johnson, but the sheriff’s officers went about their business without heeding the negro or his threats. Several important witnesses who were wanted by the prosecution have disap pea rod. The police have reported to the Mayor that Johnson’s cafe ha.s violated the clos ing hour law dozens of times. Aiderman Gaiger intends to move a resolution in the City Council, demanding that Johnson’s liquor license should he revoked. October 23. Lucille Cameron appeared before the grand jury yesterday to tell tlie story of her relations with the nro. It was a dreadful ordeal to which the girl was called upon to submit, and she had not proceeded far with her shameful narrative before she swooned, and was carried out of court unconscious. It is reported that before siie fainted she became hysterical, screaming and struggling, until a doctor was summoned, who succeeded in quieting the wretched girl. Judge Carpenter lias refused to allow Johnson to testify before the grand jury. Miss Cameron disclosed certain facts which caused the judge immediately to withdraw the subpoena previously issued to Johnson to appear and tell his own etory. At yhe instance of Lucille Cameron’s mother a writ has been issued authorising an inquiry into the girl’s mental condition. The detectives at work on the case are said to have unearthed evidence of a systematic traffic in white girls to supply the demands of rich negroes and Chinese. The grand jury ie now endeavouring to

and out what it can about the Narcisisus Club, which is said to be composed of negroes with white wives. Reports are current that Johnson had aiseociations witn at least a score of other white women. It is generally understood that a strong effort will be riade to send the blackfellow to gaol for a long term, and to drive him out of public life for ever. October 24. Johnson is gradually being made to realise the enormity of his misdoings, and the general reprobation with which they have met. He now finds that his conduct has provoked hostility in quarters from which he least expected anything in the way of condemnation. He has already been repudiated by the people of his own race and colour, and now the boxing world itself is up against him. With the possible exception of Paris, the champion has been boycotted by the leading tight promoters \n all the boxing centres of the world. American promoters are unanimous in their determination never to engage him again. Testimony which it is believed will get Johnson a long term of penal servitude has been furnished by his own' brother, Charles, and has been corroborated by a mulatto girl. The evidence is said to be sufficient to send a score of other negroes to gaol for their complicity in the white slave traffic. Charles Johnson is reported to have said that his brother was in the habit of taking white girls with him in bis private car when making theatrical trips, and that he always surrounded himself with girls at his training camps. Among these girls literature was circulated of a kind that wais calculated to interest them in the negroes. .Charles has further admitted that Jack had been expecting trouble, and that prior to his arrest he executed a deed under which he conveyed £4OOO worth of property to his mother. Johnson’s chauffeur also lias supplied details of various motor journeys in which the negro was accompanied by white girls. A horde of messengers from Johnson’s lawyers made desperate but unavailing attempts last night to reach Lucille Cameron, the girl whom the black is with having abducted. Miss Cameron, it is reported, wants to go home to her mother. She is quite ready to give up the negro.

Washington, October 23.

The negroes here have repudiated Johnson. They denounce the mating of whites and black as inharmonious. The moral of the present scandal that negro mothers are urged to heed is that they should encourage their children to be satisfied with their own colour and people.