The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-26
ROyydyisnr in Our Thentres.

ROwdyisn, i'm Our Theatres.
The scenes at the Broadway theatre on
Monday night are startling evidence that row.
dyism has unfortunately associated itself with
our theatres. In case of this kind, where
there is manifest conflict of authority, we do
not desire to pass judgment upon the actions
of the parties concerned. 1t is to be hoped
that the testimony, when fully elected before
the proper authorities, will settle the measure
of guilt that belongs to those who, whether in
obedience to or in defiance of law, committed
violence in place of amusement which might
have been fatal to hundreds Of innocent per-
sons and which has already resulted in serious
damage to at least two persons who could have
had no interest whatever in the cause of the
disturbance. We have already published the in
cidents of this unhappy affair as they occurred
at the time. Whether the parties acting as
Sheriff's officers under the order of Judge Bar
nard for the arrest of Mr.. Harkins could have
obeyed that order by making the arrest at a
more fitting time than during per-
fOrmance at crowded theatre, or
whether there was such resistance
offered on the stage to the order of the court
as to render the use of firearms necessary on
that occasion are matters which must be
brought to light in the legitimate way. The
quarrel originated about the right of property
in play, about which there seems to be some
doubt as to whether any Of the parties con-
cerned had any property at all; but however
that may be, it is certain that Judge Barnard,
upon affidavits presented to him, did Issue an
order for the arrest of the actor who was iden-
tilted with the leading part in the play, and,
80 far, the Sheriff had the right to cause his
arrest. The question as to the legality of the
police arresting the Sherif's deputies in the
performance of what they may claim to be
their duty is one for the Police Commissioners
to have determined before the courts when the
issue comes there. The audience, no doubt,
if they had known the circumstances which
were transpiring behind the curtain, would
have been grateful to the police for their part
in the matter. The police officers being sum-
moned to quell an apparent riot, where deadly
weapons were being Unfortunately used, did
nothing more, of course, than was their duty.
They were not bound to know whether the
persons assauting the attaches of the theatre
were officers of the law or not. Indeed, it
does not appear that anybody did know while
the mtlte lasted.
tits one of the evils of our municipal system
that Sheriffs deputies are not 30 much repre-
sentatives of law as Of lawlessness. They are
for the most part politicians of very rough
order, who obtain their position as q reward
for services rendered the successful candidate
for Sheriff in very questionable way during
the election. They are selected usually from
class Of men from whom mildness and dis
erection in the performance of their duty Is
hardly to be expected. However, the lament
able event which has sent two unfortunates to
the hospital and disgraced the stage of the
Broadway theatre may, perhaps, be traced to
the spirit Of rowdyism which has crept into
our theatres generally. 1t is not long ago since
one manager shot another dead in the street,
and the perpetrator was set at large by po-
lice justice because the prosecutor refused to
press the charge. The affair was compromised,
forsooth!-a compromise of blood in the in
terest of the theatrical profession, but at the
sacrifice of the rights of society! We owe
good deal of this decentralization to the pre-
vaencc of the low drama and indecent sensa-
tional spectacles. When managers can in
dulge in street fights and assaults behind the
scenes and go unwhippcd of justice what can
be expected for the morality of the theatres
The poison unfortunately permeates all so
ciety, as may be seen by the dreary column o.
crimes committed in the metropolis within the
past two months which We published yesterday
Russian Grand Duke About to WISH
America.