St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-25
THEY HAVE The FREAKS,
But Kohl & Middleton Cannot Have the
Museum Building.
WHAT WILL THEY DO TO-DAY
Barney Smith and G. D. 0'Brien, With
Proper Legal Documents, Are
Holding the Fort.

A new phase of the museum war was
presented last night when the agents of
Kohl & Middleton came down to take
possession of the st. Paul museum. Mr.
Truesdell, the receiver, who bought the
property in for Kohl & Middleton, ac-
companied by MIR. Richards, late
manager for Sackett & Virgins, and
a couple of astute attorneys, arrived
from Minneapolis at 7:30 O'Clock last
night, armed with what they considered
pretty good authority, and proceeded to
the museum on Seventh street,
where the last performance
was given yesterday afternoon
under the management of Mr.. Howard,
the mortgage. All was dark in front
of the big building, and all was quiet
save for the snoring of the aged monkey
in the curiosity room up stairs. The ex-
pectant p0ssessorS opened one OF the
big entrance doors by means of key
carried by Mr.. Richards, and started in
to possess. But they did not possess so
easily, for they found further entrance
blocked by the burly form of Barney
Smith, with several young men who
back. The Minneapolis gentlemen
tried argument and all sorts
Of persuasion. but they gained
no ground. "If ye want to
know why it is, ye can send for Chris
OBrien," was all the explanation they
got from Barney Smith. So they tele-
phOned for Mr.. O'Brien and he came
down at his leisure. Mr.. O'Brien just
told the gentlemen that his client,
Joseph W. Smith, of Milwaukee,
had lease of the building
from M. l.. Potter, the owner,
until next October, that the title was
perfect, and that he proposed to main
tain possession against all corners by
virtue of the statute in such case made
and provided. The warriors from Min
neapoliS changed their tone little, and
Mr.. OBrien explained that the curiOsi-
ties up stairs and the fixtures were
theirs, and they might fix the time when
they would come and take them away.
II WAS A SURPRISE.
Messrs. Kohl d Middleton had made
all arrangements to begin business at
once, and the coup d. etat scored by Mr..
Smith and his attorney was complete
surprise. 1t seems that two weeks
ago the owner of the building, Mr..
Potter, brought suit for non-pay-
ment of rent againt the lessees, Sack
EFT & Virgins, under the unlaw-
full detainer act, got judgment
and took possession of the building. A
day OF two later Mr.. Smith, of Mil
waukee, came up and secured from Mr..
Potter clear lease of the building until
Oct. l. This fact was not made public,
and Mr.. Howard, the mortgage, was al
lowed to continue the business
during the ten days prior to the
receivers sale, which occurred
yesterday. Kohl & Middleton bought
in the museums expecting to continue
right along. They now find they are
without a lease or any right to the pos
session of the building, and all
they can do is to move their
curiosities out into the street. The
gentlemen from Minneapolis went
back Sadder but wiser, and promised to
return and take out their belongings to-
day. Mr.. Smith is winner, and what
he will do is not given out. MI.
O'Brien says he may stock up and run
a museum, or he may rent the building
to the Young Mems Republican club or
the Salvation army. He has the right
to do what he pleases with it, but Mr..
O'Brien is pretty certain he will not
rent it to Kohl & Middleton.