Johnson reneged on agreement to fight Langford

I think it's a little worse than just saying he reneged on an agreement because it seems pretty clear he also tried to convince folks that it was his manager, Fitzpatrick, that made the agreement without his approval, only to have the National Sporting Club then refute that and provide photographic proof that Johnson in fact signed the agreement. I have another article at work that I'll have to add with Fitzpatrick's comments on the matter in the same newspaper on April 11. I understand many will view this differently than I do. I tend to see most issues as black and white and fall in the camp of believing strongly in always doing what I said I would regardless of whether I get a better offer of any kind in the interim.

But, like I said, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. As I expected I would, I came across many interesting articles in The World as I searched for the signed Johnson letter among the 4-5 months worth of that New York newspaper. I'll make a point of sharing them in the near future.

 

To my way of thinking the amount of money the NCS offered is irrelevant, Johnson agreed to the figure in writing. But, I agree it wasn't an awful lot. However, the exchange rate at that time wasn't the same as what it is now, right. Seems to me that 6,000 pounds was equal to approximately $30,000 then wasn't it, so 1,000 pounds would have been around $5,000 I believe. Still doesn't sound all that great but not as bad some would think based on our current exchange rate.

I have a hard time imagining Fitzpatrick forging Johnson's name at that time. And, I haven't been able to find any record of Johnson coming out after the photographic proof was provided by the club of the signed agreement and claiming his signature was forged. Since they essentially printed it as proof that he was lying about the agreement I have to believe he would have come out and claimed his signature was forged if he didn't sign it himself.

 

Yep, can't disagree with anything you said there Adam.

I thought I had that April 11 article from The World with Fitzpatrick's comments here at work but I can't find it so I must have taken it home after all. Will have to check there for it later tonight.

 

Found it:

April 11, 1909 – The World (New York)
Sam Fitzpatrick Answers Johnson.
Former Manager of the Black “Champion” Tells About a Few Experiences
The following letter was received last night from Sam Fitzpatrick, who was manager for Jack Johnson up to and shortly after the defeat of Tommy Burns in Australia, and was then thrown over:

To the Sporting Editor of The World
I read in The World of Jack Johnson’s arrival in the “big city.” I had decided not to bother much with his name again, but as he saw fit to criticize me for giving Burns all the best of the arrangements in the fight in Australia and saw that he was going to repudiate the Langford match in London, I thought a little inside “dope” would not be out of place at this time.

My experience with Johnson the last couple of years has taught me that repudiating is oen of Arthur’s long suits. He could not see where he should come through with the money I loned him some time before, which he wanted, as he said “to keep up appearances.”

Negotiations for the Langford match at the National Sporting Club of London, were well under way when an offer came from Hugh D. McIntosh for a fight with Burns in Australia; but nothing definite was done until a few days after Johnson agreed to meet Langford. In fact, the representative of the National Sporting Club in New York cabled to Mr. Bettinson that Langford had decided on that day for sailing. When the offer came from Australia for Burns, Mr. Bettinson acted in a very sportsman-like manner and said he would not stand in the way of Johnson meeting Burns first, as he might not get another chance. Johnson said in my presence to the manager of the National Sporting Club that he was very thankful to him for many favors he had done for him while in London and that he would return immediately after the Burns fight and meet Langford on condition that it went win or lose with Burns. To this Mr. Bettinson agreed.

Johnson talks about me letting Burns have all “the best of the arrangements” – that I admit. Had I not done so, the chances are Langford would be the “big noise” in London today and Johnson would be matched with Sam McVey, “Black Bill” or Joe Jeannette, and then possibly “back to Philadelphia to an obscure thoroughfare,” where I found him.

Yours very truly,
Sam Fitzpatrick
San Francisco, Cal. April 5, 1909.

 

It was dated September 19, 1908.