Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-09-12
LOOKS BAD FOR HIM
Little Doubt that Curtis Killed
 the Policeman.
BUT HE WON'T ADMIT IT YET
Some of His Friends Advance a Theory
 in His Behalf

Say the Officer May Have Been Shot By Some Friend Who Was With Curtis at the Time of His Arrest, But This WiD Hardly Hold--The Accused Almost Fran ttc from Worry and Fear.
 NEW YORK, Sep. 12.-The announce ment from San Francisco that M B. Cur, tis, ''Saml of Posen," had shot and killed policeman in that city came as 8 great shock to his many friends and ac quaintances in the theatrical profession here.
 Since the failure of "The Schatchen" last year Curtis is known to have been drinking heavily. He always carried a pistol about with him wherever he went, but was usually quiet and peaceful, even in drink, say his friends.
 Charles Klein, who was Curtis under study during 1.-The Schatchen" tour, said this morning: Curtis was one of the best-natured fellows 1 ever knew. He was always helping his brother actors out of hole. Why, Christmas before last he returned a whole lot of promissory notes, amounting to several thousand dollars, as a Christmas present to the fellows who owed him the money.
 Curtis has been acting very strangely for a long time past. The failure of ''The Schatchen" broke him all up. don't believe he can have been in his right mind when he shot that man."
 Reports from Frisco convey the infor- nation that Curtis is almost frantic with worry and fright over the terrible charge against him. When arrested, the police say, he was either very drunk or under the effect of some powerful drug, and he was pitiable object as he sat in the po- lice station wringing his hands in despair, running from one officer to another to protest his innocence and telling in an incoherent, drunken way of his doings during the night. He was intoxicated and as he staggered up from his seat some one would push him back again. Time and time again he started to his feet.
 My God, he cried, eff could only recall the last four hours of my life. I'm no murderer, gentlemen; had no pistol. I shot nobody. 1 haven't an enemy in the world"
 Vainly he protested his innocence of any offense and wanted to go home to his wife. In rambling way he told the story of his business and his affairs
 Although Curtis consistently denies all knowledge of the crime, yet circum- stances at present look very dark for
  sist that he may be telling the truth in the matter. They say that, although the policeman was shot and killed only half a block away from the station house, it was not impossible for some one other than Curtis to have done the killing.
 One theory advanced on behalf of the accused is, that some one was with him when the officer took him into custody, and that, as he was also likely intoxi- cated, he followed and coming up behind the policeman shot him dead, dropped his revolver and fled:
 This theory will hardly held even if an attempt is made to establish it, as there were two witnesses to the shooting. They are young men and stood directly across the street and heard the policeman say "Come along now" There was no reply, but at almost the same instant the young m en saw flash. A pistol shot rang out in the quiet street, followed in quick sue. cession by two more reports The officer fell to the sidewalk without groan, and Curtis who moment before had been his prisoner, turned and fled up Folsom street.
 Police officers state that Officer Grant | had unquestionably placed Curtis un der arrest for disturbing the peace, and | that Curtis shot the officer while being | taken to the station
 When the case of Curtis was called be fore Police Justice Morley the accused | looked pale and trembled perceptibIy evidently not having slept much since the shooting occurred. By consent thu case was postponed until Monday, tt await the action of the coroner's jur! and to allow the attorneys to prepar l their case.
 Curtis was born in Detroit, and il | about 35 years old. He made his frs appearanc on the stage in Baltimor about IS years ago, playing small part in the stock company for several seasons and then went to San Francisco. Not long ago he told a friend of hi
 that until "Sam1 of Posen' was pro duced, in 1881, he had never earned nor than S25 a week as an actor. He starred 1 in "Posen" for six or seven years, ant produced in this city Caught in Conner" a sequel to the former play.
 Curtis appeared last in a production of ''The Schatchen' last September The play was failure and Curtis tool to drink. One night while playing an en gagement in the Lee Avenue Academy Brooklyn, Curtis mysteriously disap pearel Nothing was heard of him fo several weeks, and then reports reaches this city that he and his wife, Albina d Mer, an exceedingly pretty French Cana dian, had returned to their old play ''Sam'l of Posen," and were acting ou West.
 Until recently Curtis was extremel well off. He owned a great deal of req estate in California In fact a smal town out there, about half of which h owns, has been named Posenville H tried to build a big summer hotel ther last year, but it is still in an unfinishe condition owing to lack of funds t carry it through.
 Labor Troubles at HaverhiH