Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1868-09-03
Tragedy I'm n Theatre.

From the New York Times, Aug.
The public is familiar with the rivalry
between j. T. Lloyd, lessee OF the New
York theatre, aud d. III. Harkins, the
well-known leading actor, as to the pro-
prietorship of The drama of 'foul play,
and which led to the productisn OF The
piece last evening at both the New York
theatre and the Broadway theatre. This
rivalry has eliminated in what appears to
have been the foulest kind of foul play
hospital bed, and, most probably, in lay
ing an innocent boy IN an upiimcly grave.
II is not necessary 10 relate in full the
precedent events. The cards of Mcssrs.
IIarkins and Lloyd, recently published.
have detailed them, and in accordance
with the purposes therein announced, the
play was last eyeirg produced at both the
atres. Ii appears, however, that yester
day Lloyd applied to Judge Barnard, of
the Supreme Court, and obtained an order
from him for the arrest of Mr.. Harkins.
1
O'Clock last evening, George Hickey, Jas.
Moore, Jas. Ward, Dennis Leary and
Thomas Quinn presented themselves at
the stagc-door of the Broadway theatre in
Mercer street. Old Stephen Wallace. the
door keeper, demanding their business,
they knocked him down by way of reply,
and passed in upon the stage. When
there the men headed for the stairway
leading down to the dressing rooms under
the stage. At the head of this stairway
Stephen Wilson. the property man, was
encountered. From the accounts of the
affair received from the police, il appears
that Wilson made no resistance 10 the pro
gIess of the men. and was not even aware
of their business, when one of them, Hick-
ey. seized him by the throat, and pointing
pistol at his head, fired. The ball glanc-
ed. making only scalp wound; but an
otLcr shot was fired, and this time Wilson
was brought down, the ball hitting him in
the leg, and making very severe wound.
Meantime the noise of the shots had at
tracted the attaches of the theatre TO the
spot. A few steps down the stairs stood
Leslie Chamberlain, a boy of seventeen
years, residing at No. l0l Seventh avenue,
and employed in the theatre as gass-
lighter. AT this moment Ward brought
his revolver into play, and fired three
shots, i, is said. One of these struck
Chamberlain on the arm. passed through
it, and entered the body, infiicting what
the physicians declare must prove fatal
wound.
Mr.. Hsr'lins was on the stage, and not
in his dressing room, when the men enter
ed the theatre. lie became aware OF
their purpose, and to avoid the process,
stepped from the stage TO the auditorium
the moment before the first shot was fired,
at which time also the curtain WAS rung
down.. This action, followed by the re-
ports of the pistols, alarmed the audience,
and n scene of some confusion ensued.-
To end this part OF the narrative, it may
be now added that Mr.. Jack, one OF the
company, stepped to the footlghts and an
nounccd that there was nothing wong,
except that pistol had accidentally ex-
ploded, which had the effect of quieting
the audience, who resumed their seats and
the play went on to a conclusion.
Behind the scenes meantime events had
progressed with the rapidity usual under
such circumstances. The reports of the
pistols h9d been heard 10y officers Fogar-
ty and Henderson, of the Eighth Precinct,
who rushed into the theatre the moment
after Ward had stricken down the boy
Chamberlain. BY this time, too, the gang
had announced themselves to be deputy
Sheriifs engaged in the service of a writ
of arrest The incrcdulous policemen mis-
took them for assassins and with the help
that was at hand took the entire party in
to custody, and bore them captive TO the
Eighth Precinct Station House, where
they were securely locked up by Capt.
Mills. Some time alterward, when this
official visited them in their cells they de-
sired to be let out on the plea tnat they
were officers and offered the Captain their
parole that they would be at the sta
ton house in the morning. Capt Mills
answered that he rather thought they
would, and turned upon his heels.
Immediately after the arrest the wound
cd boy and man were removed to the New
York hospital. The boys injuries were,
after examination, at once pronounced
necessarily fatal BY the physicians, while
Wilson 'swounds were thought to be very
serious but not dangerous. The boy gave
such a description of the person who fired
the shot that struck him that the police
assert that Ward is the man. Mr.. Wilson
minulely described Hickey as the man
who had seized him by the throat and de-
libcrately fired upon him.
The news Of this sad affair spread rap
idly through the city, last evening, and
created immense feeling wherever it be-
came known. The prisoners will be held
to await the issue Of Chamberlain
wounds.
III From the New York numerical.