Issue Number:111

Date: 09/21/1935

p. 1, c. 1

Joe Louis Sues to Obtain Cash Due from Bouts in D.C.

Asks an Injunction Against Promoters

Washington - Suit to recover his share of the proceeds for appearing at a boxing match held at Griffith Stadium during the Elks' convention last month, was filed by Joe Louis, Detroit's Brown Bomber, in the District Supreme Court here Friday.

In his bill the boxer asks an accounting and seeks an injunction, naming the following defendants:

J. Finley Wilson, grand exalted ruler of Elks; the Lincoln Athletic Club, Walter Johnson, Joseph Maxwell, Douglass Smith, operator of the District Athletic Association; the Washington Baseball Club, Inc., and the Washington Ball Park.

Promised 221/2 P.C.

In his bill, Louis states that by oral agreement, through his manager, Julian Black, he arranged for personal appearances during the Elks' convention whereby he was promised 221/2 per cent of the net proceeds from the fights at Griffith Stadium on the ni ght of August 27.

Wilson was to get 221/2 per cent, the Lincoln Athletic Club, 45 per cent, and Johnson, Maxwell and Smith, 10 per cent.

The Washington Baseball Club, according to the suit, was to sell all tickets, pay expenses, and then distribute the profits. Gross proceedings amounted to $8,849.70 and expenses were $2,140.95, leaving a balance of $6,708.85.

The boxing commission was paid five per cent of $465.50, the Washington Baseball Club, fifteen per cent or $1,327.45 for the use of the park; $182 expenses at a ball park for ticket-takers watchmen, ticket sellers, ushers, and miscellaneous items; $100 to Joe Turner for use of his ring; $31.50 deductions from boxers' purses unpaid for licenses to the boxing commission, and $34.50deducted for 138 passes given for window card displays at a value of twenty-five cents each.

There were 1,460 fight seats sold at a price of eighty cents. There were 4,919 sold at $1.10, 961 sold at $1.65, and 719 at $2.20. The Federal Government took $896.65 tax.

Through Michael F. Keough, white attorney, Louis asks for an order restraining the Washington Baseball Club from turning over its collections to the District Boxing Commission, as threatened, and requests an auditor to determine his share of the money.

The fighters who have not been paid are Lem Samuels, Knockout Clark, Meyer Rowan and Billy Eley.