Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-07-20
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
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There is no person better and moro
widely known through this part of Pcun-
sylvania than the gentlemanly and pleas
ant manager of tho Mishler circuit, John
D. Mn1leS himself, and for that reason
We pubiish the following facts concerning
the iaw suit which he has had with tho re-
nowped and popular Dutch comedian,
Gus Williams, who has been appearing at
Havery's 14th street theatre, New York,
10 packed houses for the last five weeks in
his now play which he had the audacity to
name "John D. Mishler-One Of tho
Finest" It is not positively .know3
whether Mr.. Williams named the play inA
tsntioDally after Mauagar Mishler, but it
was 20 supposed by a number of Mr..
Aishlsr's friends g he was at one time
proposed for tho oGfoe 81 captain Of the
Reading police department, which he
stOutl3 refused to accept. Gus Williams,
in his hew play, assumes the character of
. very fastidious Dutch policeman, who,
Notwithstanding tho fact that hs is con-
stantly guyed by members Of his precinct,
is always in q cheerful and funny mood,
which makes the play very comical one.
Now TO come to point the following facts
must be stated:
Several years ago, when the Mennerchor
of Reading gave thair great masquerade
ball in their new hall, they proposed that
twelve of its members should be dressed
alike Is policeman to take the place of
floor managers. Mr.. Mishler was the
captain of the squad and when the hour
came to unmask the policemen were drill
ed into the middle Of the spacious floor
surrounded by hundreds who had already
taken of their masks. The signal was
given to the squad to unmask, and as all
eyes were strained to see who the captain
was who had drilled his men with such
precision, they beheld the person. to be
none other but John d. Mishler. The
remark was then made that Mr.. Mishler
was . one of the finest in the squad. In
tho following spring when the Repub-
lican ticket was nominated and changes
occurred in the Reading police force, Mr..
Mishler's name was mentioned by some of
his friends, influential in politics, as the
succeeding chief of. the, Reading police
force. Being then in the theatre business
he stoutly refused the compliment which
his friends desired to bestOw upon him.
1t is we'll known that tho above Office is q
we'll paid one. There is 10 club swinging
necessary, but many Office duties which
require constant attention.
Gus Williams has made himself many
friends in Reading and during his last
visit there, after the performance of the
Seer man Senator" he was invited out to
supper which was given him by some
prominent members of the Americus club.
During this banquet the incident of MIR.
Michler's nomination was mentioned and
from this many of Mr. Mishler's friends
inferred that Gus Williams had named his
piece. This TACT has not received publicity
heretofore, and was only divulged during
the trial. When the name of the play was
first made public Manager Mishler was
travelling with the Equine Paradox, which
required all his time aud leisure moments,
consequently he was slow in forming plan
to prevent Mr., Williams from using his
name. As q shrewd manager who always
has bis wits about him, Mr.. Mishler at
once consulted the celebrated lawyers in
New York, Messrs. Howe and Hummel, as
to the course to pursue and left the whole
case in their hands. When the first repre-
sentation was given of "John D. Mishler
-One of the Finest" Messrs. Howe and
Hummel were present with Instructions to
serve an injunction if the play should
indicate any Objectionable features. So
pleased and delighted were they with the
result of Mr.. Williams rendition of this
character that they Immediately tele-
graphed to Mr., MishIer, who was with the
horses at Wilkesbarre. that the play was a
"great 60 and would score a big hit for
Williams and found nothing to reflect
upon his name. Mr.. Mishler Immediately
replied, "if the play is a 60, will claim
percentage for the use of my name." This
was an eye opener for MeBrs.i Howe
& Hummel and they Immediately
drew up papers to the effect, and
notified the manager Of Gus Williams to
appear before them. When thexnatter
was proposed to him no refused to listen
to anything of the kind, saying that the
name which Mr.. Williams selected for the
play was as distant to Mr.. Mishler as the
name of Adam, but Messrs. Howe s. Hum
mel thought that Mr.. Misbler had some
claim to Adam and gave the manager to
understand that some speedy compromise
should bs effected, otherwise they would
restrain him from playing the new CON-
edy under it's new name. This was no
easy matter for Mr.. Williams, having al
ready given orders to three of the largest
lithographic printers in America, amount
ing to over S15, 900 for work which is said
to be the finest on the road tho coming
season. This was surely hindrance for
MI. Williams, aud after consulting his law
yers Mr.. Williams decided to compromise
matters with Mr. Mishlsr by paying Messrs.
Howe & Hummel thirty-eight hundred
dollars, and also allowing Mr.. Mishler "a
per cent. of the gross receipts of every
performance az long as Gus Williams
plays his comedy under tho title of " John
Mishler-One of the Finest" Mr.. MishA 4
Ter also made clause in the agreement
binding Mr.. Williams to four weeks en-
gagement over the Mishler circuit. From
present appearances the new play is des-
tiEed to have . great ruin, and il such is
the case Manager Mishler will reap nice
income therefrOm. After all there is q
great deal in name. The police commits
sioners of New York have secured the
services of Gus Williams aud his company
to give series of benefits for the widOws'
and orphans fund of the municipal police.
Tickets for each performance are now be-
ing sold all over the city by the guardians
of the peace.
JOHN SMITH.
An Alleged Lancaster Man Arrested In Phil
adolphia.
1uIee men giving Cnelc names as JOhn
Lennon. alias Valentine Homer, Desipick
Rodgers, Of Chicago and John Smith,
one armed and colored, Of Lancaster, were
arrested in Philadelphia yesterday on sus-
pici0n that they were sneak thieves.
Lennon broke away from the officer and
fled, but was shot at, seriously wounded
and recaptured. He was taken to the
hospital. On the person of
Smith was found a gold watch with the
ring wrenched off. He said he bought it