The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-02-27
LATEST TELEGRAMS
aE PASSION,
MOrsS Arrested and the Be
hearsal stepped.

he8Fb81 stopped
Philadelphia, 26.-Ship carpenters and
house painters demand an increase of
wages.
New York, 24.-Larse numbers of
people assembled tonight at Salmi
Morse's residence TO witness dress re-
hesrsal Of the Passion Play; all the seats
were occupied. A large crowd gathered
in the street. There wss q strong force
OF police inside the building in citizens
dress and many in the street, Police
men were also at the stage door. While
the scenes we're being fixed, the actors in
costume discussed the probabilities.
Later Msrse and counsel appeared
followed by Police Captain Williams.
The captain announced that as soon 40
the curtain raised be would arrest Morse
81 if the performance persisted in going
on he would arrest them. Morse stated
that it WAS his intention to proceed with
the performance and abide by the eonse-
quences. This is my residence" he
said, II live, cook, eat and sleep hare
1t is not theatre, have no theatrical
license. | have rs much right to
invite my friends to come here and
witness this rehearsal rs Vanderbilt
weuid have 10 invite guests to witness a
dramatic performance 10 his private
residence, and you have no more right to
interfere in one case than you would
have in the other.n MoIae's counsel
also denounced the proposed srrest IS
an outrage, on the liberty Of =
citizen. A pretty girl to represent
the Virgin Mary bsntered Captain
Williams to take her to prison aS 8 sub
stitute for Morse When the scene was
set the stage was cleared Of all but those
to take part in the rehearsal. Simeon,
Caraphas, John, Anna, the proprietors,
Mary. the Assyrians, Levites and the
multitude took their places, and every
thing was pronounced ready. The cur
tain went up disclosing the presentation
of cham Der Of the temple. The orches-
ira began q solemn chant. The strain
WAS taken up, the leading singers soon
following. and the house was huIhed.
AS the first song died away, CsrsphaI
advanced, holding aloft scrolls upon
which the law was written, and deliver
ing u recitation, the chorus began to
sing the reply, when Captain Williams
issued from pillar of the temple and
arrested Merse, who stood near him. The
performance at once stopped, M0rss's
coun.e was leud in denunciation Of the
outrage, and cries Of shame came from
the people. He called on them to witness
that the performance had been stepped
in the middle Of o sacred song. Charles
R, ThOrne, ST., stated that he witnessed
the Passion Play il CALIFORNIA, and it
coptsined nothing blssphemous or
sAcrilegious. Morse said he had
been arrested because he was not
giving an immoral performance. In
response to a call from Morse's counsel
who said the police could not arrest
them for it, the performers sang the
"HailelujAh Chorus" the curtain was
funK down. and the rehearsal ended
Morse WES taken to the station house. the
charge being "giving theatrical per-
iOrmancs without license" Friends
gave $500 bail, aud Morse appears in the
| polics court on Monday morning.
New York, 25-Salmi Morse WAS be-
fore Justics Duffy in Jefferson market
police court to-day on the charge Of pro-
ducing the passion play without license
| Captain Williams was he only witness.
His testimony went merely to show tina
q portion of the plsy had been produced
Counsel fer Morse proposed to bring /;
number of clergymen 40 witnesses ant
asked postponement. he was granted
q further hearing to be held by the cour
| of specisl sessiong on Tuesday next,