The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-22


glneer on the Texas and Pacific Railroad. Forthe
last wear he hns been special detective of that
COMPANY TO hunt up ear thieves, mud proved
very Ell lent In TINT capacity He ewas formerly
from Kansas. whore II IL said he committed
several murders. He made no attempt TO escape.
and was arrested aud put in Jail. Tho Jail Ia ono
OF the most secure In this St0te. Hewas brought
before Justice Hanson. waived examnation,
and was committed without bail. The District
Court convenes May B. when he Will be ar
ralgned; me ,rienhs o. the dehd ia gGntuen13n IN
its fullest extent to secure this mans convic-
ton gnd punishment The excitement here
to-day strong talk OF lynchinR the murderer.
The news reached this city at a late hour
Thursday night and was quickly circulated.
Intimate friends. ImmedisicIy communicated
VIII with Mrs Porter, the dead mSnn's wife,
ing ing that % nh the 'tSS BODY be 80 sent "HSSd immedaey f
70 New York by express. and directing that
those in charge, should draw on him for the ex-
Brooklyn who knew that Mr.. Porter had
not been pecuniarly successful, Ind a.
iSr $50 10 dSfray Tie eSpcnses ' Of sending the
body. He also offered kis ihcqtre for a benefit
one came announcing that Mr.. Albert Muir
Doh Of tho company and yh9 played Anggise
York ON sunday or Monday, Thereup9n
WI DIOWn anu MI IINuh w OUUEtT ol lllt
Park Theatre. both very intimate friends Of
Porter. set about doing what they could 10 help
those ,Mhom the dead actor mad let hclp-
5Ss$ 5S%e %s,ncr 5sS;, S !:sr. vSs Ss H: H:
dcnd sister: ana thnt these three women were.
10y the death of Mr.. Porter left almost penni-
less. Tho last season had not been n good one
for the dend actor, and that portion OF his
home had necessarily been spent as fast as It
In "a fpNg hours MpsgT. Sanger mud Brown
bad assurances from Mr.. Henry Abbey ot the
Park ,Thoatrr, Mr.. Lester Wallack, and Mr., A.
NJ. Palmer OF the Union Square Theatre that
whatever they and their companies could do in
The way Of benefits would gladly bo done. Mr..
To-day at the Criterion Club. there will he
Meeting OF actors and managers A committee
Wi be name named, r and preparation,s , Tor benefits
matured TO this extent, The funeral Of Mr.. Por-
trI.will take place on "Wednesday, probably from
" The Little Church Around the Corner and on
Thursday and Friday afternoons there will be
benefits at the Union Square and Wallack's
Theatres There is the greatest interest mani
tested among all branches Of the profession
and. without doubt Mr.. Porter's aged mother
professional brothers. receive enough TO make
them comfortable while they live.
S1iiberl%Sp ib Club was crowded With
when the news Of Ben's death came. aud
among all those present there was not one who
He was one OF the best and most de-
servedly popular men ever knew Although
fPr aet9r he had u ~ o., snpeTi1r as mspaSer
profession. and one in which man has to use
much discretion in dealing with mon and
women. and yet Ben had no enemies. but host
OF warm friends. He was born in Boston in
April, 1883 and consequently was just 40 years
old. His father Was well-to-do liveryman. Ben
began his professional career when sixteen
years old. at the old Chntham Street Theatre in
this city. when George Fox was stage manager.
and made his first appearance M a benefit for
Frank Chaufrau, in Damon and Phythias.'
The representation attracted much comment
and different Tvthlds appeared in each act.
Porter stayed three years at the Chatham Street
Theatre. and then followed George Fox TO tho
Bowery. Thence he went to the National The
atre in Boston. whore he played youthful lovers
and heroes. parts Tor which his handsome tace
and graceful carriage especially fitted him But
he did not like 1t. and attempted 10 become a
manager on his own account. Severe Illness
blasted his hopes in this direction for time.
and for TX years he was an invalid. spending
much Of MS time in tho South He was in Sa-
vannah when the war broke out and lcit the
city On the last boat before hostltics began.
In 1871 he was engaged as stage manager
FOR the FurhuSh iifth Avenue Combination. a
very successful IN presenting those play that
Daly produced at the Finn Avenue Theatre.
LV1de was n great success. But his grali 81
success was rs Jdgues FiOchdrd In tho Two
Orphans His great skill AS a stage manager
was so apparent during this time that Bouci-
cault engaged him 10 manage the Shaugh-
mBt rSGh termbPsd Pr9EdHeS in MSTa5 Of o yesr
and since then ho has been doing what he
could. He managed the jersey, City Opera
for time; then travelled in the East with an
Uncle Toms Cabin company; supported
Katherine, Rogers in. Divorce In Williams
nation split at Albany hc Joined Mr. Barrymore
in his southern tour.
Ben was handsome man" continued Mr..
Sanger six feet tall and weighed nearly two
hundred pounds. He never had trouble
foid.blooded murder eysr heard o.. o..
all the parties as / do. Mss Josephine
Baker is engaged to Mr.. John Drew who Is
Drew is is Slr. BarTrymore's Barr; @ Wife. She is quite
III and t. with her mother in Philadelphia.
Miss Baker was engaged to- take her
low l'SG' insalted Miss S'IG, BaHer and "' can can
see Barrymore-very polite always-as ne SAID
under our protection, You must not insult her
BARRYMORE is hot-headed enough. but he
said shows that he didn't want 10 get
into a hght with an ayownd desperado;
when the man shot. Porter naturally jumped
M right hciTeen him and Barrmor2. az pu',
ting his hqnds on the fellows shoulders, tr.el
70 make him stop. That. was Just ike Bon
the sake oi friend. He was
very very r eo9d mon yfry Just mnn ,vo,
sort Of man he WAS. He was managing
company at New Orleans in which Harry
Hawk was PLAYING, You know himi The only
from. TnGiSnd, where he rlnysd in
Well. Porter and Hawk had some Disagree
ment about money that finally got 10 the point
that the two did not speak. Soon the com
pGny was dsbanded. aud Hawk went his
way and Porter his. soon after Porter
was engaged 10y Boucic0ult as stage man
ager in the 'Shaughraun company. Thero
wanted well nlIIed.' He said to Ben. j want
the best man that can be procured. DO
you know whore he isT = do said
Ben. Just, the man you want and pc
manager asked him what Hawks salary
would be-, Ben named $40 week more than
Hawk had been receiving; and SO Hawk got the
engagement, all through Porter. whom he had
parted with In anger"
Maurice Barrymore Is well known In this city
as former member of Daly's Fifth Avenue
first engagement. He is an Eng lshman by
birth, and a graduate OF Cambridge University.
He studied law. but abandoned IL for the stage.
Az an amateur boxer he has few equals. for
he once won one Of the Marquis Of Queens
bury's cups, At the Fifth Avenue Theatre he
met Miss George Drew. a daughter Of Mrs, John
Drew Of the Arch Street Theatre Philadelph phia,
and two yenrs ago married her The Wardc-
Barrymore Combination was formed several
months ago. Al Albany Barrymour separated
from Mr., Warde, and took with him on his
Southern tour Miss Nellie Cummins. Miss
Josephine Baker Mrs Baker. Mr.. John Drew,
and benjamin c. Porter.