The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-10
THE CARNIVAL GHOST.
Litigation Growing Out of Mardi Gras
in New York.
WHY REX CAME TO GOTHAM.
The Arrangements for the Pro-
cessiOn and Ball:


the title OF tried in the Eighth Civil District
Court yesterday, before Judge Gedney. that again
brought the mammoth carnival humbug OF 1877 10
life ana allowed 1t an existence sufficiently long
tell the story why Rex invited to visit New York.
The action brought tor the re0overy Of balance
Of $261 the by the defendant OF fifty tickets
for tho carnival ball. each ticket admitting lady and
gentleman at S. each, aud twenty extra lady tickets
at 81 each. Something had been paid account OF
The sale and tho suit for the balance. II tran
spired that Colonel St. Martin and John e. Rowland
were partners in the enterprise Of giving the carnival
ball. They leased Gmore's Garden Tor that purpose
ana paid the sum asked. All necessary arrangements
were made for the sale Of tickets large number be-
ing left with w. NJ II. Guernsey, who has news
stand at the Grand Central HOTEL and thoy also
distributed at the metropolitan and ST. Denis hotels
and Sinclair House, aud in fact at prominont points
all over the city, TO be disposed Of commission Of
ten per cent allowed on all sales. After the
nivai ball those tickets sold returned and
the money turned over to W. J. Cogswell. who had
taken them to the several places. Cogswel who Is
important clement in tho Case had interest in the
matter ana pushed the sale Of tickets among his
friends AS batch alter batch Of the tickets
TO Guernsey he signed regular printed receipt headed
"Rex Carnival Ball." showing that they had been
regularly delivered On the night of the pail Guern-
sey wont to the sturtevant House, tho headquarters
OF the Carnival Association, and paid some
money ON other tickets not received from
Cogswell, when something said abou.
settlement for previous batch. Tho de-
tails Of the transaction between Cogswel Guernsey,
st. Martin and Rowland were OF minor conseq
nor would tho trial prove OF general interest
not for the light 1t throws upon the famous carnival
demonstration OF last year. Tho plaintiffs repro
scented by Mr. Frank d. Harmon and tho defendants
by Mr.. +. A. Burnham.
MANAGER MARTIN.
Colonel st. Martin placed upon tho stand The
counsel Tor the defendants ut made effort TO
impcach the crcdbility OF the witness by bring
Ing up his connection with carnival parades
In Cincinnati anu other places. in which he
had taken an Important part The Court ruled the
offer as inadmssblo ST. Martins testimony OF
but little moment, as he discreety denied any knowl-
edge OF details in the matter. claiming that he was
the organizer only. He admitted. however, before
leaving tho stand, that during the past summer he
ran the Park track and coliseum At Far Rock
away aud now had bureau Tor the exhibition OF
American products at the PARIS Exposition which
missions produced general laughter
Capitalist" TEsTIFIEs
John E. Rowland the witness He was
had any capital, other than the merchants OF the
city OF New York contributed in actual cash he told
the story OF leasing Gilmores Garden from Shook aud
fillmore for $1,000 in cash, besides the agreement
that Shook Go. should have ten por OF all the
tickets, or the money they represented, that came
Into the box; II was not only the tickets that
sold at the garden upon which they should receive
this exorbitauy commission, but upon all that
taken IN Ut the doors; every penny had been paid
10 shook and Gilmore Long drawn ssahs'' came from
the spectators ~ this announcement Tho concern
paid 81 800 laying the dancing floor at
the garden and $500 for The music. Rowland swore
that Cogswe haa connection with them aud was
authorized agent tickets their receipt or Tor
Tho receipt OF money Oh account OF tickets sold
''rRUE fywARDNEss,' INDEED!
Tho cuse Tor tho plaintiffs was naturally devoid Of
I'm
niva, nor did the testimony OF the defendant Guern-
scy develop anything Of public interest beyond the
money in the affair, nire1 window ON
Broaoway and opened carnival ball ticket
novel undertaking that. In the words OF the officers OF
the association would bring hundreds OF thousands OF
strangers into the city anu leave behind them
where IN the ncgDbornood oil 81 OOO0OO or $bOO0,OO0
came when W. j. Cogswcii was put thcstahd The
witness Is al actor at the time of his connection
with the Carnival va engaged AT the Park Theatre,
and playing "Har1y. the Detective, IN sour Board
Ing House" Cogswcii host In the witness
chair Ii he ever made hty hall SO great before
The fooliighis he be regarded as extremely
lucky. Fhe manner OF telling his story wns dramatic
Ia Tho extreme. ltwould DO useless to attempt de-
scrlption Of the earnestncss lie threw into
elect with which no narrated some VI his
with Rowland. Laughter ioud and long rolled up
frequency II was Impossible TO preserve order,
even the Judge could not keep straight lace Coeswe
swore that his profession was that vi actor. HIS
connection with the carnival manag cement was this -
Rowland called at his house several sunday even
DEBS, wanted him To MS influence with tho
dramatic managers and some OF the dramatic artists
which he ana ST. Martin required eli would use
that Influence OH the managers and get them to
into the day and night proccssioIs ut cost OF 500
man, there would be money ~ 1t for me-" Cogswell
~ nrst refused, but Rowland repeatedly Calling and
holdag out brilliant Inducements, he consented.
DIVIDEND.
'They tRowand and 81. Martin) said to me that
for my influence with the theatrical profession /
should divide up with them the money made by
the concern" THIS established tho copartnership
between them. AT another time, 81. Martin told
sNnW l,.t-
money than you can earn In theatre IN 1ve years."
accompanying the remark win slap on his back
81. Martin Shaping thc witness was supsrpIy
illustrated, ami brought down" the court
prediction cosswe, sad II am dsv,sn glad t 10 sas
II, and II make half much | viii be glad And
30 Cogswel considered himself partner, using his
Influence, us against the money Of ST. Martin aud
Rowland. The iirst sory,cc Cogswc performed to
20 down among The merchants and solicit Their wagons
vi SIS cacb to take part III the day procession. He
been iold ny Colonel st. Martin TO the name OF
Geuera Shacr The matter, as he would DO the grand
marshal OF the occasion. When This was done tho
incl chants .guycd'' him. and thought 70 was "too
him." Cogswcll buck and told ST. Martin
That the merchants didn't believe the shalcr part OF
The story, when 81. Martins said:"Wei, to tell the
Gods truth, Shuer isn't ia this; but its good thing
10 say and you push Shaer all you cam" Then for
fraudulent" Rowland gave tho witness lot Of i;k-
cts to distribute at the several hotels above alluded TO-
which he did, leaving them and obtaining re-
rcipt in each Instance. Cogswfl went TO
Booths Theatre and borrowed their throne and
crown Tor tho King of the carnival to use; this
was part VI his On the day of the parade he
saw that the ALTAR VAS u tremendous humbug. ''The
muttcrugs OF the storm oi Indignation were heard
The street; IL was terrible" Zine witness gave this
with line dramatic effect, whlsli convuscd the listen
efs)
"a GRAND GRAB ALL AROUND"
On returning IRON GiimOro's Garden 10 the Sturto-
want House, the afternoon vi the ball. Cogswell
that 'thi5 affair a failure because 81 Martin
would not take the money received from the \
wagons 10 pay Tor the music now, what pm |
gong 10 doY'' Rowland REPLIED, ''You make
yourself solid on the tickets lett out. You
there will BE- grand grab all irouni; you look ont
Tor yourself, but doat be hog; honor among
thieves. my boy, and don't take II ali - a said tnut
l would not; 90 the bull came off, aud IL was "a grand
hasco" Next morning Cog weli the hotel
where the carnival headquarters were winch he also
considered his headquarters, and wnie tnorc Mr.
Dam, oil the Union square Hotel, came III lac stood
aud looked at ST. Martin and Rowland Tor
about two minutes; che hvid with ragc;'
''what damned hGmbug; | would rather nave
gwen $4,000 than have my name mixed UP with IT,"
be said CogswcIl then went down To the Grand Cen