The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-04
AN UNCOMMONLY NEAT JOB.
Mexican Admirers of the Divine Patti Swim
died 0ut of $20,O by Smooth Rascal.

Cry OF MEXICO, Dec "a tremendous SEN
sation occurred here to day, and is the subject
OF gossip in all the clubs, cafes and places of
public 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 Theater have fairly
blocked the streets. Police were required to
preserve order and it seemed as if the populace
had gone mad over the expected advent of the
songstress The price of boxes was $50 night
and seats Sc. These were three times the
ordinary prices The ostensible agent of Mr.
Abbey, who was conducting the sale of tickets,
was man giving his name as Mayer, and claim
ing to be a brother of NJ r. Mayer, Mr.. Abbeys
friend and business associate. He had with him
letters one of 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 Worrin
OF the firm of Orrin Bros, proprietors of an
American circus here who knows Mr. Mayer, of
New York, but as MIR. Orrn was overwhelmed
with business regarding the opening of his own
entertainment, which is standard attraction
here, ne had no time to give to other matter,
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 at the theater door
from an early hour TO get first choice Seats
were bought in whole blocks, some
persons paying thousand dollars for
boxes. In the course of the day the box-ofice
had taken in $18 600, and on the previous day
the private sales amounted to Sc. 500, making
the total cash sales $24 900 The governor of
the federl district was somewhat suspicious,
and sent TO Mayer to inquire if any one was re-
ell far +hn law ho:~
taken from the public; but Mayer managed
to avoid any act that would further excite sus-
picion. 1t is understood that every seat was
taken for the whole FIVE nights; but some we'll
known persons, as is the custom here, did not
pay in advance, but merely gave orders, so that
the amount in cash actually taken, as stated
does not up to that of the seating
capacity of the theater 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.
In some ingenious way, it is said
that Mayer transferred over $4,000
in bills on the national bank and
and deluded the policeman into believing 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
at the hotel The safe was opened,
and there was only found there 81 300 in silver
Now the authorities are looking for Mayer, and
speculators are weeping and receiving as best
they can the coincidence of friends.
1t 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 En-
glish with a marked foreign accent, and had
German cast of countenance. This after
noon Mayors interpreter was arrested at
Oriseaba, whittier, it is said he had gone to
make some arrangements for excursion trains to
the city. One theory is that Mayer has gone
North by railway. and another that he is
secreted here till the matter blows over.