The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-13
theatrical Romance.
WHY TRACY TITUS AND MRS. JAS. A OATES DIS
SOLVED PARTNERSHIP.

From the Chicago Tribune Of Saturday.
After long interval, the California papers ap
pear upon the table in an accumulated pile, al
though they had been washed up there by the
ment. One Of the latest contains full accouli
OF the difficulty between Tracy Titus and his
wife, Mrs. James A. Oates, as she is called BY
those who know her professionally only. few
weeks ago the Tribune contained brief allu
sion to the trouble between these two estimable
people. The full account OF their difficulty To-
Gates its origin where every married man would
naturally expect to find it
WITH THE MOTHER-IN.L LAW.
The history of the trouble introduces history oil
the principals, and it may be interesting to the
general reader to give it in brief Alice Orcenia
Merritt was born in 1849, and is consequently
but 26 years Of age. At the age Of 16, while at
school in Nashville, she fell in ,Ove with James
A. Oates, leading man at the Nashville theater,
and, contrary to the custom, he fell in love with
and removed the following year to Cincinnati,
where Mr.. Oates played for one year, and was
then compelled by sickness to withdraw from the
stage. Mrs. Oates, forced to earn her own liv-
ing, made her debut as soubrette at Woods
theater, and there learned the rudiments of her
play in
THE "FIELD OF THE CLOTH OF GOLD"
and she came to Chicago with her husband and
played in that famous burlesque, in Crosby g
Opera-House. Tracy Titus was at that time
treasurer OF the theater, and James Oates came
here az stage-manager. Titus travelled with the
company ever SINCE When Oates died. in 1871,
he obtained from Tracy promise to protect and
care for his widow, which promise Titus kept to
the best Of his ability, and, in order to omit no
opportunity Ct aiding her,
MARRIED HIS CHARGE
at st. Louis, in November, 1872. The company
had in the meantime been strengthened BY the
addition Of Billy Crane, Charles II. Drew, John
Hows0n (brother John), and others. They
emerged gradually from burlesque to opera.
bouffe, and ultimately became extremely popular,
and, in spite of hard times, have made money.
It appears that the troupe is always accompa-
MED by two ladies, of whom, of course, gallantry
forbids any but favorable mention. One of these
was Mrs. Oates's sister, Miss Pauline Merritt, and
the other, alas their mother, Mrs. Merritt.
These two lad es boarded elsewhere, and Tracy
Titus and his wife at the Occident. For week
Or two, everything went smoothly. But on one
nnlucky occasion quarrel arose regarding some
sdy, the trouble originating, it is assumed by the
rracy's memory was defective. He depied
great deal, and failed to recollect great deal
more.
MRS. OATES PUT HER HUSBAND OUT
If her apartment and took up quarters with
mamma. For day or two Tracy waited for the
storm to blow over, but wi III the pertinacty Of our
eastern climate, the wind continued to blow from
stormy quarter. Alison, the treasurer, had
brought him nightly the balance from the thea
er, but the fourth night after the quarrel Alison
allied to appear. Mrs. Oates had consulted
awyer, and diverted the proceeds, amounting to
,ome $12, 900 since then, to her own use. Her
awyers impressed upon her the belief that
TEACY WAS HER DEPENDENT,
md that the success Of the company was due en-
irely to her exertions. She too willingly ig-
,ored his Efforts and acted accordingly. The
company divided. John Howson, Drew, Jones,
Vilflama and nf the chnr1a i0inad Mra
Dates; Woodfeld, Allen, his wife, Miss Larkelle,
md most of the chorus remained with Tracy
Titus. There are now two rival organizations,
With
THE PROSPECT OF A DIVORCE.
Mcguire Is said to side with Titus, and to re-
,ard Alison as the Iago in the case. It is stated
y the Chronicle that Mcclure gave Alison . cut
cross the face with bis cane, for interfering in .
conversation which did not concern him. Tracy
Titus is well known in Chicago, and has relatives
lere who are much troubled about his domestic
disagreement.