The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-05
A THEATRICAL SCHEHE
TO ROB THE PEOPLE OF THE
CITY
or Eexlc0 by a Man Who Passes
Himself or for PATHS
Agent.

CRY OF MR1Ico, Decembsr ga
tremendous sensation occurred here
today and lie the subject OF go;sip in
all The clubs, cafes and places OF pub
lie resort. For the last two days there
has been great excitement over the
sale of tickets at the National Theater
for PATHS seaeon Of five nights in Jan.
uary. The crowds around the Nation
al Theater have fairly blocked the
streets. Police were required to pre-
serve order, and 1t seemed as if the
city had gone mad over the expected
advent OF the songstress. The prices
OF boxes were $50 night and seats
were thee times the ordinary prices.
The ostensible agent Of Mr.. Abbey,
who was conducting the sale Of tick
cts, was man giving his name IS
Mayer, and claiming to be a brother
Of M. Il. Mayer, Mr.. Abbey's friend
and business associate. He had with
him letters, which purported to be
from Abbey, which he showed to
Minister Manning and other people.
The theAter had already been engaged
for the Patti season by Edward W.
0rrin, OF the firm OF 0frin Bros, pro-
prietors Of an American circus here,
who know Mr.. Mayer, Of New
York, but as Mr., 0rin was
overwhelmed with business regarding
the opening of his own entertain
ment, which is standard attraction
here, he had no time TO give to other
matters, else the plot might possibly
have been detected. The advance
agent had letters to some OF the best
known people here, and no one sus-
pec.ed the fraud. The sale Of tickets
began Thursday morning, people
waiting at the lhester door from an
early hour to get first choice. Seats
were bought in whole blocks, come
persons paying $1,000 for boxes. In
the course Of the day the box office
had taken in SIS, 900, and on the pre-
vious day the private sales amounted
to $4,000, making the total cash sales
$4,000. The Governor Of the Fed.
eral District was somewhat suspicious,
and sent to Mayer to inquire If
anyone was responsible for the large
amount OF money being taken from
the public, but Mayer managed to
avoid any act that would further ex.
cite suspicion. 1t is understood that
every seat was taken for the whole five
nighte, but some well known persons,
as is the custom here, did not pay in
advance, but merely gave orders, 60
that the amount in cash actually taken
as stated, does not come up to that of
the actual seating capacity of the the
ster for five nights, Last night
Mayer went to the hotel
where he lodged, accompanied by
a policeman, nominally appointed to
guard him, but in reality to see that
he Deposited all the money in the
hotel safe. 10 some ingenious way, 1t
ia said that Mayer has transferred over
$50 900 in bills,on the National Bank
and Bank of London 10 the pockets OF
his oveIcoat and deluded the police
men into believing that all had been
deposited in the safe. At all events,
this morning Mayer did not appear at
the box Office OF the theater, nor was
he seen at the hotel. The safe W as
opened, and there was only found
there $4,000, $500 in silver, which, OF
course, could not be taken away. Now
the authorities are looking for Mayer,
and spectators are weeping and re-
ceiving as best they can the condo.
lences Of friends. It is said to be the
biggest thing of the kind
ever known at this capital. People
are saying that the man was an
American, but he spoke English with
a marked foreign accent, and had q
German cast Of countenance.
This afternoon Mayors interpreter
was arrested at 0rixa bay, whittier it is
said he had gone to make some ar
rangements for excursion trains to the
city. One theory is that Mayer has
gone North by railway, and another
that he is secreted here until the mat
ter blows over. ..Abya