The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-12-04
A CLEVER SWINDLER.
People in the City Of Mexico
Bilked
TO A GOOD. LIVELY AMOUNT
BY n Theatrical A6venturer, Named
Mayer-rhe San Francisco
stock Craze.
% A GOOD. LIVELY AMOUNT
A Clever swindjer.

CITY OF Mexico, December 3.-A
tremendous sensation occurred here to-
day and is the subject Of gossip in all
the clubs, cafes and places of amuse-
ment. For the last two days there has
been a great excitement over the sale
of tickets at the National Theatre for
the Patti season of five nights in Janu-
airy. the crowd around the National
Theatre has fairly blocked the streets.
The police were required to preserve
order, and il seemed as If the city had
the advent OF the sougstress. Prices Of
boxes were $50 and seats S6. These
were three times ordinary prices. The
Ostensible agent OF Mr.. Abbey, who was
conducting the sale of tickets, was
a man giving his name as Mayer, and
claiming TO be q brother of NJ. L.
Mayer. Mr.. Abbey's friend and business
associate. He had with MIN letters,
one of which purpOrted to be from
Abbey. which he showed TO Minister
Manning and other people. The thea
tire had already been engaged for the
Patti season by Edward H. Orrin. of
the firm Of Orrin Brothers, proprietors
OF an American circus who knows Mr..
Mayer. of New York, but as Mr.. Orrin
was overwhelmed with business re-
garding the opening Of his own enter
tainment, which Is the standard attrac-
ton here. He had no time to give to
other matters, else the plot might pos
siSly have been detected, The ad-
vance agent had le teTs to some Of
the best known people here, and no
one suspected the sraud. The sale OF
tickets began Thursday morning, peO-
pie waiting at the theatre door from an
early hour TO get the first choice. The
seats were bought in whole blocks, some
persons paying $1,000 for boxes.
In the course OF the day the box
office had taken IN SIS GOO, and
on the previous day private sales
amounted TO $3.50, makiRg a total cash
sales OF S2i 600. The Governor was
somewhat suspicious and sent %
Mayer 10 inquire if any one was re-
spOnsible for the large amount or
money being tax n from the public, but
Mayer managed TO avoid any
act that would further sxcit. 5 pic.Cn.
1t is understood that every seat was
taken for the whole FIVE nights, but
some well-known persons. as is the
custom here, did not pay for them IN
advance, but merely gave orders SO
! that the amount IN cash actually
/ taken does not come up 70
hall the seating capacity Of the thea
/ ire for five nights. Last night
| Mayer went 10 the hotel where he
lodged accompanied by a policeman
nominaliy appointed 70 guard him, but
IN reality TO see that he deposited AL
the money in the hotel safe. In some
geniOus way it is said that Mayor
has transferred over $1,000 in bills on
the National Bank and Bank of London,
to the pockets of his OvercOat, and de
luded the policemen in to believing all
had been deposited in the safe. At all
events, this morning Mayer did not ap-
pear at the box Office of the theatre, nor
was he at the hotel. The safe was
opened and there was only found 81 800
IN silver dollars. which, of course,
could Z o. be taken away. Now the au-
thorities are looking for Mayer, and
Spectators are weeping and receiving
as best they can the condolences OF
friends at the capital. The people are
saying the man was an American. but
he spoke English. with q marked
( reign accent, and had a German
cast. of countenance. This afternoon
Mayors interpreter was arrested at
Orizaba, whittier il is said he had gone
10 make some arrangement for excur-
sions 70 this city. One theory is that
Mayer has gone north by rail and
diligence, and another that he IS
secreted here until the matter blows
over