Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-07
A VERY NOVEL; DEBUT.
How a Young Amateur Actress Was
to be Brought Out in This City.
HER HUSBANDS BEHIND THE BARS
The Newsies Will Probably not Get Any
Winter Clothes Now.
THE PLAN WAS TRIED ONCE BEFORE


novel and original way of "bringing out''
an amateur actress were arrested in this city
last night and are now Eliminating over
their future prospects in the Central station.
One of them was snatched from the arms
| of a bride of three weeks, who is the afore-
said actress. She is at the Hamilton Hotel,
sobbing for her husband, who will be called
upon to explain several things this morn
| ing.
In yesterdays DISPATCH was an account
of proposed performance to be given in
Lafayette Hall, December q, for the benefit
of the Newsboys' and Bootblacks' Home.
The matter was brought to the attention of
Superintendent Druitt, of the Newsboys'
Home. He investigated it and found it to
be flake" He succeeded in locating the
men who were behind the scheme at the
Hotel Hamilton, and last night they were
arrested by Detectives Fitzgerald and Dim
mel.
The two men are brothers, and hail from
the West Their names are Byron f. and
John Gilkenson. When arrested they had
about 100 tickets for the entertainment The
tickets read "Help save the newsboys. First
annual benefit by the Pittsburg Elite ORA
matte and Musical Club, Lafayette Hall,
Friday evening, December 27, etc., etc."
A PLAUSIBLE PLAN.
The tickets had the names of DR.. G.
Angel, Secretary. and Miss Alice White,
Treasurer, printed on the bottom. On the
left hand side Of the card was notice that
no talent derives any benefit from the pro-
ceeds of the entertainment, as the entire re-
ceipts were to be used in purchasing winter
clothing for the newsboys and bootblacks.
One of the men attempted to sell ticket
to Captain A. j. Logan. The man did not
know that Captain Logan was a director in
the Newsboys' Home. The purchaser of the
ticket turned it over to Superintendent
Druitt, who ran across the man who sold it,
B. F. Gilkenson. The latter said be visited
Captain Logan for the purpose of
efecing an amalgamation with his scheme
and the Newsboys' Home. This Captain
Logan denies. Mr.. Gilkenson told num-
Der OF conflicting statements about the iden-
tity of DR.. Angel and Miss White. He
said the latter lived in Allegheny, at No.
225 Montgomery avenue. When Mr.. Druitt
went to the place he found no such number
on the street. He then located Gilkenson at
the Hamilton Hotel. The latter upon being
threatened with prosecution said they had
sold S25 or $50 worth of tickets and offered
to make compromise with Mr.. Druitt He
sdAu suey ndu uO6 nlreu the nall, Out 1D-
tended to do so as soon as they could raise
the money. They did not even have the
customary fee of $1O but said after they
raised the amount they would change the
date and give the entertainment later.
WANTED HER TO ACT OUT.
The object of the scheme, he said, was to
introduce his wife to the public. He stated
she was an amateur actress, and in an enter
koTV aanf fnu fhA
would take some interest in the scheme.
Mr.. Druitt promised to fix the matter up,
which he did by reporting it to Inspector
McAleese. The latter sent Detectives Fitz-
gerald and Dimmel to the hotel last night
and arrested the men. A large number of
unpaid board bills, etc., were found among
their effects with the tickets.
In regard to the arrest, Inspector Nc
Aleese said: 'These men have been work |
ing this scheme all over the country The |
idea is good one to raise money, and they |
have been fairly successful in this city. |
The scheme is to get the tickets printed, and |
after selling a large number of them, skip |
out without giving the entertainment"
The young actress spoken OF has been |
married to B. f. Gilkens0n about three |
weeks. When the detectives took him |
away there was a sad parting. The man
wept the greater part of the night over his
misfortune.
THE PLAN TRIED LAST YEAR.
The incident recalls the fact that one
Curtis, who passed in Pittsburg by |
the name of "Harry Venn" and who
worked in a transitory way upon an after
noon paper, went around and worked up a
benefit for the same object about year ago.
He secured the Penn avenue rink, got the
Y. M. G. A. young men to volunteer a
gymnastic entertainment, promised speech
on newsboys by DR.. Talmage and got plans
perfected for a grand musical adjunct.
Tickets were on sale all over the city and
things looked roseste, when one fine day
Curtis, alias Harry Venn, went around and
collected the money from tickets for "inci-
dental expenses and made himself scarce
on an Eastward train. Never heard of
since, he is gone, but not forgotten.