Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-27
END OF THE NATIONAL OPERA.
Manager Locke Arrested. Charged with
Assuing Worthless Checks.

AIter season OF financial disaster, the National
opera Company disbanded on Saturday night at
the conclusion OF the performance OF aida"
which had been substituted for 'sTannhauser," the
announced opera, the change being made neces.
sary by the refusal OF Eloi sylvia, the German
TENOR and others OF the artists sing unless they
were paid some OF the back salary due them. This
result had been anticipated for some days, as 1t
was known the company had been in sore financial
straits, nearly all the members, singers, chorus
and other employees having unsatisfed claims for
some cases for that OF last season. Al every per-
lormance by the company since Thursday night
there was delay in raising the curtain, owing TO
the refusal OF various members OF the company to
so on with their work until paid money due them
or given guarantees for It, The dis ,atsfed people
the week Of opera was only continued To It's close
through the efforts Of Manager Rapley OF the
National Theater who assumed considerable
in order that the patrons Of the house house
might not be disappointed. The first week
which which the opera company spent in Wash
the troupe has had this year, about $50 900 having
been taken In. The following week, which was put
disastrous one, and the company got back 10
Washington on pledge to pay the railroad trans
portation bill before the curtain went up on the
performance on Monday night. The bill was paid
After saturday nights performance a meeting
OF all members OF the company was held on the
lively and noisy discussion, some bitter things
were said regarding the management, and Mr..
Locke, who was the center OF the excited crowd,
was talked TO with more vigOr than politeness.
Some OF the principals wanted sort OF co-opera-
tive management TO be inaugurated, In order that
the engagement for this week In Baltimore might
be kept, but Mr.. Locke, tired beyond further en-
durance with the burden he has been carrying, re-
fused to have anything TO do with the scheme
Nothing definite could be decided on, and the hopes
which many members OF the troupe had held OF
being able TO make arrangements TO start at once
for New York were abandoned. Another meeting
was appointed for 10 o'clock sunday morning.
The amounts due the various members OF the
company are not known definitely, IL appears,
even by the management Miss Emma Juch says
she Is owed $4,000 for last season and $4,000 for
this. Mr.. Ludwig claims that $122 900 is due him,
$500 OF IL since last year. Large amounts are
also said TO be due Elol sylvia, Bertha Pierson,
Aonzo StOddard Frank vetta, and. In fact, all the
principals as well as chorus ballet, and property
people. The orchestra seems to have Jared best OF
all In the matter OF salary, having all along In
sisted on prompt payment. They played Tor the
matinee and night performances Saturday without
hope OF in order TO help their more necesstous
cO-wOrkers In the ballet and chorus, who seem TO
have been left In destitute condition. Alonzo
Stoddard is said to have Jared very badly In the
wreck, having been left almost without resources
He had received for q long time only small por-
tionS OF his salary.
According TO Manager Locke the deficit during
the past sixteen weeks Is 100000 OF which
artists and other meilbers OF the company s25 600
are owing. Mr.. Locke says that In time ne will
The receipts for saturdays performances,
amounting to about 81 ,30O were held by Manager
Rapley to await a decision OF the members OF the
company as to what disposition to make OF them.
Mr.. kapey had orders on these receipts In favor
or Mr. Ludwig, Mr.. McGuckln and the orchestra.
II these orders were paid all the funds OF the COM
pany would be exhausted, and there would be
absolutely nothing for the ballet and chorus
people TO get out or town with. There was mucn
heated discussion among the members or the com.
pany who assembled about the theater yesterday
morning. as TO what should be done. Finally, Mr..
Ludwig and Mr.. McGucktn waived their Claims,
and, after time, the orchestra was induced TO do
likewise.
THE ARREST OF MANAGER LOCKE.
There was q fresh sensation yesterday afternoon
when Manager Locke was arrested by Detective
RAN In the Office Of the National Theater on a
warrant sworn out by Eloi sylvia and Bertha Pier
son, charging Mr.. Locke with swindling chem by
means OF bogus checks. During the weeks en-.
gagement In Virginia there We're frequent COM
plants concerning the arrears in salaries, and
Mrs Pierson refused TO continue the engagement
unless some money was paid. Mr.. Locke drew up
a check for 500 on MeSsrs CorsOn d Mccartney,
the bankers, OF this city, and gave 1t to her. Mr..
MIR. Locke satisfied him by drawing a check on the
same firm for $500. The checks were presented for
payment and then 1t was learned that Mr.. Locke had
no money In the bank on which they were drawn
1t was thought BY the holders OF the checks that
he might deposit during the week, but not having
done 50 up TO saturday night, 1t was resolved TO
cause the arrest Of Manager Locke. When taken
ntO custody, that gentleman readily accompanied
the detective to police headquarters There he
had to remain until o O'Clock last evening, when
Judge smell was found, bail was furnished In the
sum OF 81, ,OOO and Mr.. Locke was released. He de-
nOunces his arrest as malicious prosecution on the
part OF Mr. sylvia and Mrs Pierson, and declares
that the latter well knew that the checks were In
tended to be paid at q future date.
The affairs OF the other members OF the company
having been Strengthened out for the time being,
arrangements were made during the afternoon for
a special train TO take them TO New York. This
train left at 10 O'Clock last night, taking all but
Manager Locke, Mr.. sylvia, and Mrs. Pierson The
members OF the unfortunate company felt very
good at getting away, as for time 1t looked as II
the great majority OF them would be thrown on pub
lie charity here for subsistence Most OF the people
seem to have been able TO settle their hotel and
bOarding-houSe bills, although small sums were
supposed to have been LETT unpaid in several in
stances.
MANAGER LOCKE IN THE POLICE COURT.
MANAGE Chas. E. Locke, OF the National Opera
Company, appeared in the Police Court early this
morning. He sat during the morning with his
counsel, Mr.. E. A. Newman, and his friend, Mr.. Ed,
Hay. During the morning he was Joined by other
friends; Iney occupied sea!S @ bd S mn tne new par or
usual Monday morning proceedings In the Police
Court comprising comedy, fnelodrama, and
and had mussed appearance, as though he had
passed his hand through 1t great many times
since saturday night Lawyer Newman was quite
indignant during the morning because the CON-
plainants had not appeared. I'VE were here at 8
O'Clock" he said 70 STAR reporter about IL
O'CLOCK, "anQ the complaining witnesses are not
here yet. We have telephoned for them. There
will be nothing done to Mr.. Locke. This is simply
q way adopted to collect claim against him."
Mr. LoCKE's BANK BOOK.
Mr. Newman had in his hand Mr.. Locke's bank
book showing his account with Corson & McCart-
ney, and bundle OF checks. 1--WE have q state
ment of the account this morning." he said "show-
ing that Mr.. Locke, after all checks have been
paid, has balance there Of 55 cents. The checks,
on which this prosecution Is based, were given
with perfect undrst anding that funds would be
deposited In bank to meet them. That Is the way
q manager In Mr.. Lockes position has 10 do busi-
meet the checks be has given. he gave Others
during sSe n we Week Naesrtney ss r
PiersOn-I think 1t was Friday nignt-by refusing
the opera, greatly lessened the receipts and made
It dif1cult for him TO meet his engagements. Many
persons left the theater and their money was re-
turned to them"
THE WARRANTS.
When Assistant District Attorney Shepherd
came into court he brought with him the two
Eloi sylvia, charged Mr.. Locke with having, on
February 20, given him check for 500, on Cor.
son & Mccartney, which upon presentation had
not been paid, as Mr.. Locke had no funds depos-
i5ed p there; rne other warrant sworn r out oy Mr
18th inst. given Mrs Bertha PierSon check for
500 on the same bankers, which had been pre-
sented at various times and as late as last Sasur-
had no funds on deposit with the firm.
About noon MessfA sylvia and Person appeared
with their attorney, Mr.. J. Amber Smith.
Mr.. SYLVIA ASSUMES A NEW ROLE
1t was nearly IL 80 O'Clock before In the routine
OF the court business, the name Of Mr.. Locke was
called. Mr. sylvia, short stout man. with round
ruddy face and curly brown hair, was called TO the