The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-12-11
MEAICANS BADLY DUPED.
Tickets for the Patti Engagement Sold
by Bogus Agent Who Fled with
$4,000 Belonging to Citizens of the
City of Mexico.

A dispatch OF the 3d from the City
OF Mexico, ria Galveston, says: A
tremendous sensation occurred here
to-day and is the subject OF gossip 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 the Patti season OF five
nights in January. The crowds
around the National Tneater have
fairly blocked the streets. Police were
required to preserve order and it
seemed as if the city had gone mad
over the expected advent OF the song
stress. The prices Of boxes were $50
a night, and seats So. These were
three times the ordinary prices. The
ostensiole agent OF Mr.. Abbey, who
was conducting the sale OF tickets,
was a man giving his name as
Mayer, and claiming TO be a brother
OF VI. r. Mayer. Mr.. Abbey's
friend ard business associate. He had
with him letters, one OF which pur-
ported TO be from Abbey, which he
showed 10 Minister Manning and other
people. The theater had already been
engaged for the Patti season by Ed
ward ". Orrin, Of the firm Of Orrin
Brothers, proprietors Of an American
circus here, who knows Mr.. Mayer, OF
New York, but as Mr.. Orrin was over
wheimed with business regarding the
opening OF his own entertainment,
which is standard attraction here,
he had no time TO give to other mat
ters; else the plot might possibly have
been detected. The advance agent
had letters to some Of the best known
people here, and no one suspected the
fraud.
The sale OF tickets began Thursday
morning, people waiting st the uheater
door from an early hour to get first
choice. Seats were bought in whole
blocks, some persons paying 81 200
for boxes. In the course OF the day
the box office had taken in SIS, 500,
and on the previous day the private
sales amounted to So, 800, making the
total cash sales S24, 900. The COVER
nor or the federal district was some
what suspicious, and sent TO Mayer 10
ask If anyone was responsible for the
money being taken from the public,
but Mayer managed to avoid any act
that would further excite suspicion.
It 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 IN advance,
but merely gave orders, so that the
amount in cash actually taken does
not come up to half the seating ca
pscity ot the theater for five nights.
l. ST night Mayer went 20 the hotel
where he lodged, accompanied by g.
policeman, nominaliy appointed to
he deposited all the money in the hotel
s2le. In some ingenious way, it is
said, that Mayer transferred over
$4,000 in bills on the National Bank
and Bank OF London To the pockets
OF his overcoat and deluded the police
man into believing all had bee1 De
posted in the safe At all events this
morning Mayer did not appear at the
box office OF the thester nor was he
seen at theh hotel. Thesa was opened
and there was only found there S4,-
800 in silver dollars, which, Of course,
could not be taken away.
Now the authorities are looking for
Mayer, and spectators are weeping
and receiving as best they can the con
dolences OF friends. Il Is said to be
the biggest thing OF the kind ever
known at this capital. People are
saying the man was an American, but
he spoke English with marked for
eign accent, and had a Mexican cast
Of countenance. One theory Is that
Mayer has gone north by railway and
diligence, and another that he is
seGeted here until the matter blows
over.