The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-02
TIE rRoUBLEs or 4 AANAGER.
Curious Experiences OF Japanese Aero
bats.

The excitement caused by the arrival of the
Japanese jugglers in this city, and the deep
interest felt for the unfortunate little GAN
Right" are known to all, but few are aware of
the difficulties and misfortunes encountered
by the persons who brought these performers
from Japan.
In October, 1866, Thomas +. Smith aud
Gustavus w. Burgess, two Americans then
residing in Yokohama, Japan, entered into an
agreement with several Japanese aorobats and
iugglers to give performances in the United
States and Great Britain. By the laws or
customs of Japan no native is allowed to leave
the country without the permission of the
Tycoon. Messrs. Smith and Burgess obtained
authority to take the company and receive
their services for one year from October 20,
1866. The penalty imposed upon the Jug
glers by the Tycoon for noncompliance with
the terms OF this agreement was death
Twelve performers were selected. The prin-
cipal ones were Foo-choo-matz, who acted as
leader; String kee-chee, Ling-kee-chee. and
Ring-kee-chee, his son of nine years. with
Zoo-shee-kee, Chee-shau-kee, La-as-kee, Chez
Zahshau, Ai-noo schee Foo-choo-chee, and
I-as-kee as assistants. They were of one
family, the servants of the house of Yoo-llu-
chu, Japanese Prince. Messrs Smith and
Burgess paid the sum of six thousand five
hundred dollars in Mexican gold to Yoo-ku-
chu for their services for the time named. The
performances We're to begin on the arrival of
the company in San Francisco.
The capital was furnished by Burgess until
the troupe arrived at the point of destination,
when the profits and losses arising from
the performances were to be participated
in by both-Smith receiving one-third, and
the remaining two-thirds to go to Burgess.
The remarkable performances of the Japanese
Al
and the receipts were larger than were antici-
pated. Last spring the company were play
ing to large houses in this city, and Ring
chee-chee, popularly known as little CALL
Right" had become f4vorite. After the per
tormances in New York concluded in August,
Mr.. Smith was preparing to give the company
rest for a few weeks, preparatory to en-
barking the troupe for Japan, and intended
to put them under tuition of an English
teacher, and instruct them in the English
language. Several of the company had
already acquired some proficiency in the Ian
guage, and one was acting as interpreter.
Little "All-Right' had become particularly
attached to the wife of Mr.. Smith, and was
rapidly learning to speak English; and be-
cause Of his activity of mind and general
intelligence Mrs. Smith intended to adopt him.
by permission of the Japanese Government.
AT this time Mr.. Thomas Mcguire offered
Messrs. Smith and Burgess the sum of $l5, 600
for the services of the performers for few
weeks, to travel throughout the North and
West. The company agreed to go with
Mcguire, on condition that they should come
back to New York in October, as they desired
to return to Japan. To this Mcguire, it is
said, assented, and the jugglers performed in
Buffalo, Chicago, and other cities, returning to
this city about the 1st of September, where
they met with Smith and Burgess.
While absent on the Western tour Mcguire
obtained the signatures of several members of
the troupe, through the instrumentality of the
interpreter, to an extension of the contract to
February l. 1868. BY the terms of this con-
tract he was to pay Foo-choo-matz, for the
troupe, twenty-five hundred dollars in gold,
for which sum they were to perform in the
cities and towns Mcguire visited. When the
money was given to Foo-c -choo-matz, and the
matter explained, he refused to perform any
longer, but expressed his desire to return to
Japan. He claimed that the contract was not
signed by the troupe, but that one of the
troupe, without the authority of the others,
and in collusion against them, signed their
names without their knowledge or consent.
The company were preparing to return when
Mcguire caused the arrest of the Japanese
troupe for violation of contract to perform ac
cording to agreement, and the charge of en-
bezzling twenty-five hundred dollars was pre-
ferred against Foo choo-matz.
The whole company were taken before In
spector Leonard, at the Police Headquarters
Not understanding why they were thus ar
rested and unacquainted with our language
and customs, they were much excited, and
"Little Albright" expected that they were
about to perform "Harikari' upon his uncle,
Foo -choo-matz. Inspector Leonard dismissed
the case until the next day, combining Foo
choo-matz in the Tombs. The case was
brought before Judge Hogan on the following
morning. w. G.. Trapbagen appeared as de-
fendant's counsel, and explained the case as
we have recited Judge Hogan discharged the
prisoner.
The troupe, with one exception, still re-
mained fixed in their determination not to
perform longer in this country, and refused to
recognize the alleged contract. Mcguire got
some control over the interpreter, who in-
tended to remain in this country, and was en-
deavoring to influence the troop to do the
same He was unsuccessful, however. Foo
choo-matz saw that the interpreter had acted
treacherously, and told him that he would be
beheaded when he returned to Japan. "Little
All Right" hailed him as "bad Jap"
Mcguire, finding that he could not enforce
this agreement against the company, associ-
ated himself with Richard Risley, Edward
Banks, and William +. Shudt and they made
complaint to Judge Barnard of the Supreme
Court, who, upon afiidavits of complainants,
issued an order for the arrest Of Thomas f.
Smith and Emma Smith, his wife, on the
charges of ''First, damages not arising out OF
contract; secondly, for injury to property;
thirdly, that the defendants are not residents
of this State fourthly, that the defendants are
about to remove from this State, with intent
to defraud the plaintiff.