The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-15
SPRIGGS AND THE BUTCHER.

MELODRAMATIC SCENE IN HOBoKEN THEAa
TRE-THE STAGE KNIFE.
Tho calm atmosphere oil Hobokea has again been
disturbed, not this time by social scandal def
aicaton, but by a personal encounter between an
eminent member OF tho histronic profession (as Hoo
boken histrionics go) and well known politician,
who is also prominent representative OF i'm.
portant branch OF Hoboken commerce. He keeps .
butchers shop Frenzed by insults iancied real,
the actor Wednesday night, leaped from the stage
OF the Hoboken Colosseum into the proscenium box
occupied by the butcher. and, brandishing in his
right hand tho k0ife with which he had juse
vowed 10 avenge tho death OF his seduced and
murdered daughter In the play ne seized tho
butcher by tho throat with his left hand and pre-
pared to sned his gore once. scream nom hia
murdered daus.ter (wno is his vile OF tho stags do.
tered him from executing his fo design and by The
diplomacy oil friends tho catastroDnc was averted
barroom fight ensued alter the performanc In which
tho worsed, and pistols perchapce. coffee,
wore talked OF over night Sucn, ut least, was the
tale OF horror that HoDokon heard In the morning,
aud q HERALD reporter was ordered 10 be In ut the
DEATH FIRST he inquired OF tho big sergeant In thG
little police station whether the duel had come or
Tho sergeant thought not He had heard Of none.
Alter had been told OF tho circumstances he said
81 don't know anything aoout It see Fitzpatrick
last night am he said no gon TO the theatre "a
have some fun. He was pretty well billed then, but
MuRpERoUs BLADE.
Mr. Mucss, tho proprietor OF the Colosseum, said he
did not reckon there would DC any duet There had
been a lutte muss, but it trin,ng. He had NOT
heard of II even, until after the performance. "Waa
thero a IN the bartoom nitcrwardsr swell, yes.
rhc gentlemen had had some words together, aud
Fitzpatrick Fitzpatrick IS tue butcner) had kind o.
showed sprgss tsprggs Is The actor TITS way Here
he gave the reporter friendly dig IN tho ribs that
him crashing against the stove. IL was nothing,
he explained further after the reporter had recovered
himself II might be called nero difference Of
Opini0n--a sort Of argument
"But the knife," urged the reporter Are differ.
en,es Of opinion usually settled with Knives In your
house ?"
Mr. Mucss laughed. He laughed immodcratciy and
with reckless disregard, the reporter thought, VI
gravity oil the question.
.lhe knife" no SAID at last whom be gained control
knife covered with silver leaf such as comes on to-
bacco. Ho had u Ia his hanc during tho play. and I
supposc he nadu time 10 take il to the prop
erty room before he went into the box"
The reporter next Aought Mr. Fizpatrck. disgusted
indeed NJ the In winch the sensation" ooz.
ing out vi the story, but hoping even against hope
md the butcner bent on slaughter. Mr. Fitzpatrick
ut home but Mrs. Fitzpatrick was
FITZPATRICK THINKS ABOUT IT.
She Is a large hne looking woman, with a rapid
Gov vi speech and decided opinions. She had heard
taxed HIM WIN It wncn nc awoke "He didn't rsmcm-
Der word about u, she said, ''And SAID It was
TO sympathzc with her husband very strongly,
though she seemed good deal amused, aud with :
the saloon whcro NJ Fitzpatrick was nkelicst 10 be
found.
BUTCHERS VERSION
Mr. Fitzpatrick small nun, with WIDE Omen
expression that seems indicative oil surprise and
tniaity He reluctant 10 say anything
about the affair. but at length admitted that
there had been row. spriggs had jumped
in,o the box and hit him and they had
iriends aud ~ he explained, IrauEIy. ave WEREN'T
drunk, you know, but Just Itiie merry asked
him wha, he meant by treating me in the theatre,
and he SAID had been iangning ~ the actor.
WELL SAID Il aidnt come here TO cry, you know.
0i course | was laughing Then" Here Mr..
Et m, NIB tsH
happen next Atisngth To SAID slowly, II hit him
couple OF times; that's ALL"
"But, about the KNIFE W said the reporter
There wasn't any knife"
sPKicGs' vIws.
AT the residence OF Mr Henry SprIggs more scri.
Gus view OF the matter Is entertained Mrs spriggs,
tue boards 10 Miss Alice shepherd, 10 .
' a sgsA' D:s sasss
Eosti u, sns told the story story with great
torrance so that Harry went TO tbs box and asked
them TO behave. l had boon there before and told
the second time there was u KIND OF row, anu | gos
my anger IN ms eye aud knocked him over"
Who Harry I" asked the reporter.
mo, no, fitzpatrick rnen they waited for him
outside ana there was another row and we got ous
the back way. Excuse me momcnt' and she SUD.
denly Disappeared, wnile young man, who seemed
TO be friend oil the family. gave he reporter his yer.
sion OF tie AFFAIR, saying that ne had confronted the
'gapg that was waiting for' them alter the PERFORM
aDce, but Two gigantic butchers had pulled him or
when ne tried to assist his friend Harry.
Presently Mrs sprigss roappeared. and invited the
reporter inside to see Mr. Spriggs, that gentsman
having apparently thought In the nrst place that his
callor armed with a warrant Reassared on this
point he told tho story his way, representing that be
had taken Fitzpatrick by the collar and cxpostuated
with HIN about making a disturbance, and that he
hold Stage knife IN MS hand ~ the ume. After the
performance Fitzpatrick bad hit him, and there had
been n scrimmage
"And pot blow on my temple" said tho vile a
tho lrcnd Of the family, VINO was also present.
"And got Harry away" said MrA Sprigsa
Mr. spriggs iurtber explained that be was an acton
oftwenty years. experience and had also been scout
under Custer He said that Ftxpatricks friends had
threatened to 60 10 the theatre pull him on tnG
stage he should appear again, aud than run
the risk OF beng STABBED he had thrown up his 90.
gagencnt and would play no more al, he Colosseum.
'Ihcy threatened 90 pull me on, too," said the
friend Of the famuyj "b0t am going on II do
will die at my post"
Mr. sprirgs looked al him with some admiration.
but did NOT sscm moved TO emulation, AMI repeated
that lac did not intend 10 run tho risk Of benz
stabbed