The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-12-15
Mr.. Mesler's Bad Mistake.

bileatrlcal manager, and general educa
tionai caterer, is in a peck of trouble
because of his extreme enthusiasm il
the cause of justice Mr.. Messer is the
owner, editor and publisher of the Som
erset IN. ~ Democrat, weekly, and the
Jersey Knight, monthly. Both are pub
llshed at Somerville, and, in connection
/ with his labors in the editorial field, MI
Messler conducts the affairs of the Som
erville opera house.
10 make the most of the Thanksgiv-
ing holiday he arranged for two per
formances on the Oath by Averill and
Dlxon's company, presenting Mark
Twain's comedy drama, tom Sawyer
as the posters announced in big black
type on the Somerville bill boards.
Ordinarily the Averill and Dixon COM
pany has no existence. 1t is what is
known as snap company" and was
organized especially for the benefit of
the Somerville citizens by the manager
Martin Dixon, of New York. Both of
the Thanksgiving Day performances
were successful in every respect, aud
when the curtain rang down in Mr..
Messler's opera house at II o'clock at
night all hands were so we'll satisfied
that they joined in convivial drink at
the expense of the theatre proprietor
Trouble was brewing even while they
were consuming their favorite tipples,
but of this no one dreamed
At lao Manager Dixon and his cons
pany boarded a train for New York.
Fired with their successes of the day,
they continued the 1nerrymaking begun
under the auspices of Mr.. Messler, and
everything went merrily until soon be-
fore the train reached Elizabeth, when
the conductor handed the following dis
patch to Manager Dixon, explaining that
he had received it at the last stop:
Martin DiGon:-The pocketbook Of
my janitor containing IS and pass on
Central Railroad was taken from his
pocket tonight. One of your men took
it. Think it was the one who took the
part of Stump Hawkins. Find it or l
will have all arrested before arrival at
Jersey City. Answer.
d. N. MESsLER.n
Consternat ton seized the Averill and
Dixon company, and the four male
members retired precipatately to the
smoker to hold council of war. Before
they had decided on a plan of campaign,
Elizabeth had been reached. and two
ofiooro IF Tho low onpoowa6 op6 on,
nounced that either somebody had to
give up pocketbok containing Sc and
a railroad pass or certain New York ac.s
tors would find themselves in the tolls.
Manager Messler had telegraphed to
the Eliza beth Chief of Police regarding
the loss suffered by his janitor, and he
had requested that everybody be arrest
ed unless restitution was made Argu-
ments, tears, and entreaties were alike
in vain. "Either the play actors or the
pocketbook," was the ultimatum of the
New Jersey officers, and, after the train
had been held as long as possible, the
two officers decided to carry off the per-
sons of Mana ger Dixon, Charles e. Fish
er, who played the leading role in ''Tom
Sawyer" E. e. Carney, who did the
heavy william, ..and William Fisher. To
their intense chagrin and Indignation
they were marched to the Elizabeth
lock up, and midnight found them
safely lodged there.
Two hours after the prison doors had
been closed on them telegram arrived
from Manager Messler announcing that
the pocketbook, Sc, pass and all, had
been found. and withdrawing his COM
plant. The Chief of Police and the
Police Justice of Elizabeth was notified,
but the latter sent word that he could
not discharge the prisoners until he
opened court in the morning. Under
this decision the actors We're kept in jail
all night. Just before they were re-
leased in the morning a letter was hand
ed to Mr.. Dixon from Manager Messler
excusing himself at length for having
been misled into suspecting any mem
Der of Mr.. Dixon's company of the theft
of the janitor's purse, and expressing
deep regret for the delay and annoyance
his mistake had caused.
There was considerable balm in this
communication for the actors, but not
enough to compensate them ior their
nights Imprisonment, and each imme-
diately began a suit for $1,000 damages
for false imprisonment in the United
States District Court of New Jersey
their attorney, Waldorf H.
Philips of 245 Broadway, New York.
Mr.. Carney feels particularly aggrieved
because he played "Stump Hawkins
and was singled cut in the first Messler
telegram as the presumptive pickpocket.
When asked why he should have been
settled upon he answered, with mourn
full shake of the head:
II don't know, unless it was that l
played the part of the villain with such
realism that Messler thought me capa-
BILE of any crime"