The New York herald., 1878-03-08
COLUMBIA OPERA HOUSE.

ATTEMPT OF TIE SOCIETY FOR THE PREvEN-
TIoN OF CRIME TO CLOSE IT.
The Society the Suppression Of Vice came to the
Jefferson Market Police Court yesterday. President
Howard Crosby and various other digntaries were in
attendance, with Mr. Martin, their counsel their de-
tectives and cloud OF Witnesses Messrs. McCielland
and Stiner appeared on behalf of Jake Berry whose
place OF amusement (,hc Columbia Opera House, It
was tho socicty's intention prove disorderly
house. Present also several theatrical managers
After some discussion between counsel the prosecution
produced Its witnesses
After testimony had been given ns to the disturb
ance the Opera House cost the neighbors, Captain
Kennedy. OF the Ninth precinct stated that no had
received several anonymous letters complaining Of
the place. but positive specific charge made
against IT, Several tmos he had detailed officers in
citzeps clothes the place gather evidence
against Il. What actuated him In doing this was the
action of society In making charges against him
before the Police Commissioners for not closing tho
Columbia Opera House, and his desire to ntan
peace and order In his precinct He had different
occasions visited the place in person. In the per-
iormances ho had never seen an immoral act.
Charles Waite next took the stand He said that he
a fishing rod maker and detective; on Deco mber
he was engaged the last capacity by the Society
for the Prevention Of CRIME In this CITY Stamford,
Conn. he visited tho Columbia Opera House on Feb-
ruary H. 13 Is; he had knowledge OF tho place
except such as he derived from those visits: on the
llth ne entered ought O'Clock In company with Mr.
Mceksr and took scat near tho stage; the first
play put upon the boards was enttled ''Mock
Modesty;'' the scene was house OF III fame.
The witness then read from bis memoranda certain
forms Of speech used by person who assumed the
role OF shoemaker's wife upon tho stage aid who, It
appears, threatened an inconsant husband with the
that she would herself initiate mis- city,
Witness then described other things which thought
rcprehensible In the performances.
Robert Petersen brusque old patriarch of seventy.
oight, stated that hc had lived half a century In
house close to the opera House; that he had never
any scenes IN the ncghborhood OF improper
character. He had frequently been tho theatre !;
had never seen anything there ne regarded AS i'm
moral and Tor his part anccd tho young ladies
stage were rathcr heavily clad. number OF people
residing the Opera House followed Mr. Petersen
asd agreed with him In tety Ing to the qustpcss OF
the anu the har mess character OF the perform
Lille Huber was next called sho denied point
blank allegation they had made concerning her
Miss Nellie Harris rcgalcd the listeners with n
hears oil her part In one OF the putatively naughty
dramas which, according to her rendition, was not
at all arngly indclicase but seemed rather oppress-
lively stupid
rho was closed, and Counsellor McCieiland
the one hand and Practice the other summed
VI.
At the conclusion Judge Duffy averred his intention
OF reading the evidence carefully and giving written
decision, as he believed the case had bearing In
which every place OF amusement was concerned