The Evening critic., 1883-02-26
SALMI MORSE ARRESTED.
The Police Authorities Stop the
passion Playn nj the Begin

ming.
In New York, Saturday morning, Judge
Donohue refused to grant Salml MorsO's ap.
plication for an Injunction restraining the
police from interfering with the full-1ross
rehearsal OF the "Passion Play" announced
for Saturday evoning, and for which he had
Issued number OF printed invitations, IN.
Guiding the district attorney, the recorder
and all the police Justices. The invitations
stated that the entertainment was to be
"strictly private" and TO be given at Mr..
Morse's residence, No. 100 West rwenty.third
street, (which is the play house which Mr..
Morse has had erected. At z O'Clock tho doors
to tho entrance OF Passion Hall wore thrown
open to tho guests, who were admitted
without charge on showing their invitations.
Simultaneously q body of thirty policemen,
under tho charge OF two sergeants, took
positions at the Twenty-third street entrance
and at the stage door, on rwenty-fourth street.
In the meantime the chorus and the actors
entered and attired themselves in their stage
dresses. The stage was set TO represent the
Temple In Jerusalem and at S:l6 tho or
chestra, diminished by the absence of many
of the musicians, began to play the overture.
By this time tho parquet and balcony had
filled up with an audience of about LOO
we'll dressed and orderly men and women,
who patiently awaited the rising of the cur
tain. Just before the music began Captain
Williams and Inspector Thorne entered the
stage entrance, and were introduced to Mr..
Morse by his counsel.
Captain Williams, in polite but business.
like way, notified Mr.. Morse that he would ar.
resthim as soon as the play begun, but would
not arrest any of the others unless they at
tempted to go on with the play. Mr.. Morse
pronounced this action an ''outrage and a
cruel wrong" to him, and ordered the stage
manager to ring up the curtain. The opening
chorus was sung, and the High Priest began
TO read from the Illuminated scrolls n selec-
tion from Genesis. He had Just completed
the reading of the first scroll, when Captain
Williams, stepping from behind scene,
pushed his way through the crowd OF
Morse's shoulder, exclaimed, In a low tone:
"Thls is enough. l arrest YOU" The stage
manager stepped forward and announced the
arrest aloud. Instantly there was an out
burst OF hisses and cries OF "Shame! shame!"
from all parts of the house. Mr.. Morses coun-
sci made speech, declaring that the Police
Commissioners had perpetrated an outrage In
ordering the arrest of Mr.. Morse and tho stop
page of the play, and Mr.. Charles r.. Thorne,
sr, the actor, who had seen the play produced
in San Francisco, spoke to the same effect. In
response to loud calls. Mr.. Morse stepped
forward and spoke as follows
81 am not surprised at this occurrence. 1
am an outlaw and have no rights. license
is refused to me because do not have prize
fighting on my stage. license is refused to
me because have no winter garden, where
people can sing and drink beer and visit. Be-
cause want to preach Jesus, His greatness,
His goodness, am prevented by those who
are systematically violating the law. 1 could
not tell you all II l were to speak an hour
| longer. 1 would prefer TO see this theatre
burned down tonight and not receive one dol
lar of insurance, to sec, another play ON
| this stage. l have hundreds of people In my
| retinue. They are all ladies and gentlemen.
/ am much obliged to you for coming here
| tonight, and l hope you Will spread this Ia
| others and see me rightsd. l have committed
| no crime, and never shall commit one.
Ladies and gentlemen, have TO go with my
guard, for am arrested"
| "Let us give the 'Hallelujah Chorus,
| begged the counsel and the stage manager,
| and Captain Williams nodded assent. The
| chorus was sung, and the curtain rolled slowly
down, amid another rousing burst OF ap
plause.
| Tears stood In Mr.. Morse's eyes rs he turned
| to go. All the employees crowded about and
shook him by the hand, and the young gir
| who plays the PirgiR begged Captain Williams
not 10 lock the prisoner up. Finally Mr.
| Morse got away from the throng, aud was
escorted to the station-house, whore he gave
| bail 10 appear yesterday 10 answer the charge
| OF "producing play without a license"
AS coon as the decision was announced Mr.
| Morse filed In the registers Office q Ave years
lease of his hall to Converse l.. Graves, dated
| on Thursday last. The rent is stated to bt
$500 ".yearly," which is supposed to be {
| clerical error for $500 month, and the lesse,
| stipulates that he will produce no play o
other entertainment without Mr.. Morse's ap
| proval in writing. He gets the building rem
| free till May ].