The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-30
DEATH OF BARNEY M'AULEY.


An Actor of Great Ability and Marked Eccen-
tricities, with an Eyentful History.
An Associated Press dispatch from Louisville
SAYS that yesterday, a private telegram was re-
ceved there from New York announcing the
death of Barney .McAuley, the actor.
Bernard Macauley, or as he was called, Bar
ney," was well known in this city-not that he
ever lived here, but by reason of this having
been for several years the home of his mother,
as well of his brothers Daniel and John, and his
sister, Mrs. Charles Pope. This. and the fact
that, beside his stage appearances. he paid
occasional summer visits to his relatives, gave
Indianapolis people more interest in him than
they otherwise would have had, though he was
not man to attract friendships or to care even
for casual acquaintance his mind being preoc-
cupied with matters pertaining to his profession.
The way in which he left the Macauley Theater,
at Louisville, and the unreasonable quarrel he
had with his younger brother, John, following
which he changed his name to McAuley, gave
him wide advertisement of doubtful character.
His relatives and friends charitably attributed
Ills unreasonable pervorSeneSS Co q O1SOrQ6r0Q
mind, and there is little doubt among those who
knew him best that he was not sane man dur
ing the last seven or eight years of his life
He was great actor in some parts, and, in
tragedy, with his commanding fgure-he was
six feet four inches high, finely proportional,
with voice full, rich, deep and grand in its
modulations, would, had he continued in it,
have been at the head of the profession. He
was, perhaps, the greatest Macbeth that has
been upon the American stage in the past TWEEN
Nv fua Tic vyif fhofn Mo Afsco
Rachel johnson, well-known actress), said she
dislked exceedingly to play Lady Macbeth to
his Macbeth, as his impersonation of the char
acter always filed her with terror and quite
unnerved her.
Those who years ago saw him in tragedy and
in oldfashioned comedy panied to see him
fall away in such ephemerical plays as ''The
Messenger from Jarvis Section" Mr.. Maoauley
himself looked upon it as degradation, and said
he was catering to the depraved appetite of the
the money there was in it. His greatest
comedy-part was without question that he took
in 1.-THE Bull in China Shop" Years ago, at
the old Academy of Music. he played that part,
and old theatergo who saw him have not yet
ceased talking about it.
He went from Woods's Theater, Cincinnati. Of
which he had been lessee. to Louisville. He
came to Louisville" said George Dickson to a
Journal reporter last night, with about $40, 900
that was all-and built the Macauley Theater
which cost $120,000 He bought the lot on
which the theater was erected on time, and bor-
rowed about $35, 900 on the building. He owed
the whole thing-it was all debt. The panic
came on and theatrical business was very bad.
In 1879, Norton 81 Co.. the Louisville bankers,
who held mortgage of $35, 900 and accumulated
interest, for he did not keep the interest paid
up, forecosed their mortgage. There were
other creditors, all the claims amounting, per-
haps, to $4,000 or $4,000. but Norton & Co.
held the first mortgage, and the remainder was
in comparatively smaller amounts, scattered
among great many people My brother and
myself went down to see about buying the thea
ter. We went to see Norton & Co., who told
us that they desired to favor Macauley
in every way. They said that Barney Macauley
should have first chance to buy it in-that he
could do 80 at $685. 900 and interest, and that any
other bidder would have to pay $40, 900. Not
only that but that Mr. Macauley could have all
the time he wanted to pay it out Well, Bar
ney got mad His brother John was urged to
buy it Barney said he wouldn't buy it himself
and that nobody of the name of Macauley should
have it. John told Barney if he Barney
wouldn't buy it he would. John bought the
theater. Then Barney became furious and did
a number Of ridiculous things. He became very
bitter toward his brother John: indeed, toward
the entire family, and changed his name to
McAuley. He had painter take pot of
black paint and blot out the large sign
tickets and every article about the theatre
that had the name Macauley upon it. He
took away about 500 of stage furniture and sold
it at junk-shop for song don't think the
man was in his right mind"
He was o Samson in strength. When lessee of
Woods Theater, at Cincinnati, there were fire.
quent troubles about reserved seats, persons TAX
ing seats that were reserved and refusing'to yield
them to their rightful owners. One evening, a
Cincinnati alderman, accompanied by two
selves in three seats that had been reserved and
for which few minutes later the rightful
claimant appeared and demanded possession
The alderman-a large. coarse animal
refused re- to So,..s vasate' :. and was sur sur!
intention of retaining the seats. The gentleman
with the checks for the seats was timid and told
the usher he did not care to press the matter,
that other places would do. The usher, however,
had been given orders to report such cases to
Mr. Macauley himself. and he insisted upon
doing SO, in spite of the concatory desire of the
check holder. Mr.. Macauley appeared and, ad-
dressing the alderman in a suave manner, re-
quested him to vacate the seats. He could have
just as good seats elsewhere, to the right or to
the left of where he sat- The alderman refused
to Stir, and was coarse and abusive in his replies.
Having exhausted all mild resource Macauley
reached over with his left hand, caught him by
the back of the collar. ana thus, with
one hand, dragging the alderman's legs
the aisle to the exit, and. as he threw him out,
kicked him. 1t was done apparently with as
little effort as another man would require to re-
move a troublesome terrier. The alderman be
came paralyzed afterwards, and attributed it to
the kick. He brought suit for damages in
large amount, pending which he was sent to
hospital for the insane whore he died. which
terminated the suit. It is hardly necessary to
add that there was never any question as to the
rights of holders Of tickets for reserved seats
after that at Woods Theater during Manager
Macauley's time.
The Liquor-Law yiolators Fined.