The New York herald., 1876-10-18
D1scoRDANcE AMONG vocALIsTs.

SUITS AGAINST CLARA LOUISE KELLOGG AND
c. D. HESS IN PHILADELPHIA-A PIECE OF
''TAM" vILLAINY-How FORTY MUSICIANS
WERE swINpLED-rHE CONDUCT OF TAMs.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. IL 1870
Early this morning Mr.. c. d, Hess, the manager Of
the Kellogg English Opera Company which has just
begun an engagement at tho Academy OF
Music, was waited upon by . sherins olcer,
and served with less than fifteen sum
monses in as many different suits Tho same gentle
man subsequently, called upon Miss Kellogg and
favored her also with fifteen legal documents OF the
same nature. Each OF these instruments Is sum
mons returnable November l. and they represent
FIFTEEN DIFFERENT SUITS
for damages against Mr. Hess and Miss Kellogg Jointly,
brought by number OF disappointed Singers, who
werc led to believe that they had engaged by tho
company by Arthur W. Tams. who pretended 10 be
the agent of the opera company.
swISpLK
IL appears that two months ago number OF amateur
and professional sineersbo,h ladies and gentlemen.
mostly ama,cursiivng in this city and the surround
ing towns, received notifications signed by Tams that
they might JOIN the Kellogg English opera Company.
Pleased with such hattcring offers very naturally,
about fifty persons fastened 10 tho appointed meeting
place, Albrechts Hall, Sixth street. above Arch. this
city, and were informed by Mr. Tams that he had been
authorized by Mr. Hess to engage entire
chorus in place Of the regular one who had demanded
higher prices About thirty of the vocaliss, fifteen
ladies' and rs many gentlemen entered into contract
oil which the following Is copy
THE CONTRACT
October is 1876 Philadelphia a. the salary Of 81 Is
for each ana gas.n'.e :. lea.; tour perform
knowing all tho operas on the day ss ;srrSn
Aren. for C. d. Hess manager Kellogg Opera Company
In return each ono signed agreement to travel
and TO iunl all the engagements Of tho season Tho
amount to be paid differed beng as low as So and
as high as So but 81 70 was tho average, as lar
be learned. Many OF the singers mad no writ
ten contract relying solely on the word OF Mr. Tama
The majority OF tho persons engaged by Tams had
come long distances or had gvcn up good sltua-
tons 10 join the Kellogg troupe. From
their statements IL appears that they were all
assessed TO pay the rent Of tho practice
hail. the gas, &c, and we're compelled 10 buy tho
Of all tho operas from Tams at tho rate Of 81
apiece, the usual price being seventy cents They
also had their board TO pay and their wardrobes to
buy
For the past two months the residents OF Sixth and
Arch streets havo been favored with matinee d
ting performances Of choice selections IRON every
opera and the repertoire Of rst class company and
daily practice has been industrously going on the am
ntcurs, who formed tho majority OF the company fully
believing that they were 70 DO employed by Mr. Hesa
All went harmoniOusly until
FRIDAY EVENING,
when lams their instructor. coolly informed them
eleven OF them or course discord succeeded the har
monyat once among the musicians. There was first
demand for explanation, to which Tams could
do nothing but shrug his shoulders, and then bitter
dcnuncation OF the swindle that had becn perpe-
trated upon thcm, tho victims not knowing who TO
blame most, Mr. Hess or his so-called agent Tans.
The suits that havo been brought all against Mr.
Hess and Miss Kellogg, the claims averaging $3.50 for
each person.
WHAT THE MAxAGxR SAYS
A HERALD correspondent called upon Mr.. Hess This
afternoon TO get his side OF the story, from which It
appears he charges that the Tams Is nothing
less than a swndler
Mr.. Hess denies that rams ever had any authority
to represent him a. agent ,,tor, to engage any
way Tams is member of hts chorus,
under contract and until night Mr. Hess says ho
had not the slightest idea OF the confidence game no
was carrying on. The manner In which he became ac
quainied with Tams, and his relations with him, tho
manager explains as fcows:-
On the Goth OF Jelly last ho received a letter from
Tams from this city, asking for the engagement Of
tot oil singers OF which he was one Ho paid aiten-
ton the letter and did not II. Toms ucon-
tinued 10 apply for a position IN the company and
got ettors Of Introduction from Barili OF New York
Then Mr.. Hess thought him worthy OF some notice,
and finally offered him individually an en-
sasemens In ,. his chorus; telling n, him
bur that II he would HIM eclvcn good voices
familiar with all the opera he (Hcss) might engage
the right to make contracts with anybody. This
seems to have been the only foundation Tams had
Tor his assumptions. Mr.. Hess suys the
must be crazy TO navc gone on engaging people by
wholcsae---a piece OF stupid viainy in which
sure TO bc found out. Tams is still mcmbcr OF the
chorus OF the company Nothing to have been
done TO punish him. When he summoned TO tho
green room he had nothing to say for himself In ex
tenuation
Mr. Hess bcsicged to-day by tho unfortunate
victims OF Tams Out OF pity Tor their situation no
has taken seventeen Of hcm into tho chorus, instead
OF the eleven ho intended 10 select. and
will take SIX more to travel with tho
pany. lilo also ofTcrs to employ all who
sing In s'Thc Flying Dutchman and "The Star OF
the North" when they given in this city. But the
manager will probably haye hts hands full Of law busl-
for some time, more suits threatened 1t
is absurd, he says TO Miss Kellogg she only
member OF his company, and has interest in IL be-
yond her salary.