The New York herald., 1878-03-09
ARNOTT'S IDENTITY.
THE coNUNDRUM PROPOSED TO A CONTEMPT
uoUs AcToR-A THREE ACT DRAMA AMI

THE coNUND1UM PROPOSED TO CONTEMPT
uoUs AcToR--A THREE ACT DRAMA AND
THE DENoUEMENr IN DOUBT
new and strange chapter of legal literature,
case strikingy to the point. was presented in
ton which came up for argument yesterday before
Judge Lawrence, in Supreme Court Chambers, why
MI. Edward J. Arnott the actor, should not be
punished tor contempt of Court. The story, as re
veaiod In the aihdavt Is quito dramatic IN some OF
It's phases Dir. Arnott was present in court and
listened to the recital Of the story with mpassveness
TnR orENISG
Tho opens with Mr.. Arnott as the victim Of
financial troubles In way, but how Is not ex.
planned, he becomes indebted to Mr. Horny George
Poole. The sole OF Mr.. Poole Charles
Beuty Bngley, as representative OF the deceased
creditor, brings suit against the living actor In
the Supreme Court, aud In this obtains
Il Judgment for $40 H. gold, and $64 80, currency.
deputy sheriff Is the next character introduced; !;
this Official, who in the real drama OF lilo is rather
stad and stereotyped character serves the execution
satisfied, which simply means that there
OF Mr. Arnot upon which the deputy sheriff can
place his manual digts, and thereby mako good tho
amount owing to the expecant judgment creditor.
NQuIsiTokiAL RESEARCHES.
1t Is an old rule tnat law must take Its course. An
equally avorite apothcgm IS that the law Is
specter OF persons. In this case the law took its
course, ana there was no respect Tor Mr. Arnott
Upon the return made by the Sheriff order
forthwith issued by Chef Justice Davis, of the Su-
preme Court, directing him TO appear IN supplement
tary proceedings and be examined his property.
Perhaps visions OF star chamber nquisitons
looming up before him and natural repugnancc to
giving notion to anything savoring OF prying into
onc's affairs. and perhaps because he did not fully
realize the importance of the order the OF
the course took al! events NO paid no attention
TO the order.
FrITTIXG SHADOWS.
Tho COUNSEL Messrs. Arthur, Phelps, Knevels and
RANSOM Tor the judgment creditor, would not be so
satisfied. young man named James W. Perry
belonging TO thor Office, told shadow Mr.
Arnott. On the evening OF tho 81 OF December last
he went to the stage entrance OF Waack's Theatre.
He inquired for MIR. Arnott, and the latter made his
appearance.
''Aerc is paper wish servo you, I" said tho
young man, at the same time hana,ng him copy
OF an order 10 appear Tor examination and showing
him The original.
''You can't any papers me, F" said Mr.. Ar
mott throwing the paper on The lioor
''rake tins paper" Mr.. Arnott called out 10 tho
young man as he was leaving.
am DO nothing OF the kind,n said tho young man.
Mr. Arnott Immediately, AS young Perry further
turns out altcrward to have been the original winch
had been handed to HIM by mistake.
AT rBE STANDARD THEATRE.
Mr. Edward J. knaver, another young man. made
an effort TO serve "a copy OF the same papers Mr.
Arnott, at the Standard Theatre, on the I'd inst He
happened to know Mr. Arnott by sight, ana met hun
near the theatre. Ho showed the paper under Mr.
Arnotts arm, told him what the purport OF The paper
was, when Mr.. Arnott dropped it on tho sidewalk
and passed on, leaving II there. Not quito
satisfied with thus performance, tho fnnc
the standard Theatre. The object OF hs search came
out wearing a false mustache and goatee.
'What IN hell do you want Z" the mode of salu.
tation, which he followed up by asking the stage
doorkeeper, "Why don't you Kick that damn fool out
oil the doorY"
Young knaver said he was wiling TO be kicked II
Mr. ArDott would come outside The gentleman he
says did come outside, whom he denied being Mr.. Ar
not, anu told him that II he wanted to any pa
pers Mr. Arnott no should so TO tho Union Square
Hotel, whcrc he boarded, piece oil advice which ne
coupled, however, with this caution Knaver swears
III his affidavit "but look out, tor he Is big fellow
and aid two fellows already, aud will lay you
out, too
MR.. ARNorT's STORY.
The statement OF Mr. Arnott Is best told in his own
brief affidavit US iolows:-
GIN anil County of Ner York. :sdward Arnott being
duly am the defendant above In or
about octoOer last served the
suit which commanded mo to appear and that
judgment would bo taken against No other paper
Tne order OF Judge Davis dated December 81 1877.
never served am informed aud beeve that tho
order TO show dated February ~ 1873
another before it ths party eving
named order the who served the
EDW j. Arm OFT.
Sworn to before March q. 1879 oHS BALsrIas
Notary Public
THE CURTAIN DROPS.
Judge Lawrence after herring the argument sale
that # tho facts alleged process
be taken TO show that The dignity of the Court mus
be maintained and It's orders obcycd Counsel ont
side insisted that Mr. Arnott should be committed fo
contempt ana fined the full amount of the judgmen
with costs Mr. Arnott's counsel denied his intended
dsrcspcct TO the order OF tho Court and asked Tor
reference. Judge Lawrence snid he would tako tb,
papers and see whether reference was proper.