Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-03-26
THE mURDERED ACTOR.
Meeting OF the Benevolent Order OF
EIks to Arrange for his Funeral
Resolutions AdOpted-Thc
RuffianIY Murderer to
be Prosecuted
vigorously.

New York Sunday special to the Cincinnati
Enquirer: The lodge-rooms of the Benevol-
emit Order Of Etks, in Clarendon hall, were
crowded this afternoon by members of the
dramatic profession, who met to take action
regarding the cowsrdly murder of Ben C..
Porter, cf the Ward Barrymore Diplomacy
company, At Marshall, Texas, by a drunken
rufhan named Currie. Among the gentlemen
present were A. NJ. Palmer, TJny Pastor,
Morris SimmOnds, Sarton Hill, OF San Fran
cisco, SignOr Majeronl, Thomas 7. Morris,
John Sheridan, Dan HarkinS, Edward NJ
holland, r Nathans, Nelson Decker, q. h.
Spragus, William Shannon, J. G. Hagern,
@. W. FaTren, J. Leslie Gossin, II. S. Duff
field, J. Mines Levlck, Charles T. Dobson, j..
f. Wheelock, Frank Mordaunt, Frank San
ger, Sol Smith, J. f. Poole, Thomas l.. Dom
nally, Edward Hardgan, Tony Hart, James
Il. Meade, Zeke Chamberiin, Frank Scum
chill, Welsh Edwards and many others. It
was announced that the funeral would be held
IN the Little Church Around the Corner"
on Wednesday next at eleven o'clock. John
P Smith occupied the chair, and Colonel
Aston Brow acted as secretary. a tele-
gram was read from Il. E. Stevens, of Chi
| cage, asking that ne De drawn on for twenty
FIVE dollars to aid IN the prosecution of the
/ murderer. a letter was read from Mrs. Por-
| ter, mother Of the murdered actor. authoriZ-
ing Colonel Brown to assume charge of the
funeral arrangements, and appointing Jerry
Liant IS her personal representative. Liant
was authorized to draw on the treaz urer foE
sufficient funds to defray Mrs Porter's ex-
penses. A somewhat spirited discussion took
| place regarding the appropriation Of funds to
assist In the prosecution of the murderer.
| MIR. Nathans and other gentlemen urged
strenuously that every influence should be
| used to convict the dastardly assassin. Ed
| Holland said he wished the murderer was at
one end Of rope and he was at the other
end to swing the ruffian Up. The president
said from the tone OF the Texas papers the
people OF Marshall would most likely deal
with the Murderer in an exemplary
| fashion, and proposed the devotion OF
money for the purpose of prosecuting him
would be unnecessary. The secretary an
nounced that the managers of the
| Union Square theater, Wallack's, the Park,
| Grand operahcuse, Tony Pastors, Theater
| tomIque, aud the New Park theater, OF
| Brooklyn, had offered their houses for benefit
| performance. The announcement was re-
| ceived VITA applause. Resolutions of con-
| doience were adopted A subscription was
! then opened ard a large sum realized. A
! committee Of twenty were appointed to re-
| ceiye Alb ri Murdoch and Mr.. Porler's body
| at Jersey City. 4 committee was SppOiDted
! to wait On I'll. principal actresses and request
! them to solicit subscriptions fiom their per-
sonal friends. Mr.. Porter bad been inur-
| dered while protecting actresses from insult,
and no doubt the ladies of the profession
would do honor to his manly bravery and
| gallant death.