Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-07-16
TILE
TIE
EvENINGCAPITAL
Published DailytExcept sunday:)
~ THE
Capital Newspaper Company.


Theatrical Frauds.
Every town and city Of any inn
portance are more of less imposed
apon during certain seasons of the
year with some travelling Theatri-
col frauds. who come with a great
flourish oftrumpets and flaming show
bills, announcing the first appearance
Of some renowned actor or actress.
One oftbese frauds under the assumed
name of the Davenport Combina-
ton Company" made its appearance
In this city, few weeks ago, and to
give It character, engaged apart
ments at the Maryland Hotel for about
q dozen or more and male female per.
formers. They secured the use Of
Masonic Hall for their entertainments,
were not limited in their printing,
and did not object to fair prices, and
by their suavity of manner succeeded
In getting quite lot of job printing
done at one of our neighboring Off
ces They advertised to play four
nights, their leading plays being '"The
Hidden Hand" 1.-TWO Orphans"
&C., and their leading characters be-
ing the far-famed actor, Mr.. John
Winston Murray, late OF the Rom
ney Rye" Company, and Mile Lam
berti, the queen of actresses, and
others of lesser renown. The night
of their first performance was enough
TO convince an 6ntelligent audience Of
The character of the show. They con-
tinued, however, to throw broadcast
upon our streets the free printing
they had gotten, TO entice an audience,
but to no effect, until finally their au-
dience dwindeled down to two per-
sons-these colored. Bills began to
come in to the manager with great
urgency for settlement, who politely
informed the holders that their bills
would all be settled when the Treas
urer, q Mr.. Bumgarden, a man of
great responsibility in Washington,
reached here. With great anxiety
each one waited patiently the coming
Of the Treasurer Finally he arrived
on Saturday of the same week, and
was besieged by the creditors of the
Company. Mr.. Bumgarden was
very pleasant and agreeable gentle
man and made every one who con-
fronted him with a bill feel perfectly
confident of its settlement. Bring
your bills" said be, ITO the hall this
evening at the ticket Office, and they
will DO settled, gentlemen. All
accordingly met at the hall, and the
creditors Of the Davenport Compa-
ny" composed the audience for that
evening, and instead of performance
BY the troupe, the acting took place
behind the scenes, and the actors con-
sisted of printers, musicians, the ball
agent, &c, and the principal charac-
Ter, the polite Treasurer, who, with
his usual suavity, invited his audience
to the Maryland Hotel, where all
bills would be adjusted. The crowd
accordingly repaired to the MARY
land,v in the meantime not losing
sight of their dear treasurer. Here
short consultation was held with the
of the hotel whose bill was
some $50, for board, &C., the treasur-
or, Mr.. Bumgarden, and leading BUSH
ness man of Washington, an engraver,
stamp and dye cutter for the govern
ment, whose business represented
several millions of dollars, would not
let his reputation as a business man
60 to protest for double the amount,
and agreed to accept draft at five
days sight for the whole amount, pay
able to the proprietor ofthe Mary land
Hotel, who would reimburse all
creditors. This was readily accepted
BY tho other creditors, whose bills
were small in comparison to that of
the hotel proprietor's, and they
thought if the hotel man was willing
to accept the terms of settlement
The other creditors certainly could,
and the settlement was acquesced in
By all, and Mr.. Bumgarden and his
company were relieved. The day of
settlement drew near, and postal
was received asking for five days
grace, which was granted by the kind
hotel man. and the grace has contin-
ued ever since, and Mr.. Bumgarden,
and his troupe are no doubt chuckling
over the little game they played on
Annapolis people.
This same company, we learn went
from here to Easton, Nd, crossing
the bay in sail boat, and played the
same game there. After speaking Of
the fraudulent company in manner
they deserve, the Easton Gazette por-
trays them in the following language
"Once in a while a crowd of just
such adventurers drop down in Eas-
ton, and no doubt when they return
10 The city, tell Of their trip and how