The evening world., 1894-09-14
WARNED ANDSETFREE
Great Hammerstein- Kessler Fight
Ends in the Police Court.
The PugiIistic Manager Says Blows
We're Evenly Divided.
Kissed Di Dio, He Declares, Because
Her Songs Were Immodest.

Baron" Hammerstein and Count"
Kessler, the two mobiles Of the local beau
monde. who converted Roster & Balls
concert hall into a temporary field OF
Mars last night, were arraigned in JEFF
ferson Market Police Court this morn
ing.
Mr.. Hammerstein was accused Of as
sault by Mr.. Kessler, while Mr.. Ham,
merstein made the less severe complaint
Of disorderly conduct against Mr..
Kessler. The terms of the charges are
unimportant as both prisoners were
discharged.
The trial brought to court a crowd of
men well known In the lamplight life
Of the city. Both Messrs. Roster and
Bal. and their business manager, Mr..
Cline, were present. The defendants
were promptly on hand accompanied by
their counsel. Mr.. Wise for Mr.. Hammer
stein. and Mr.. Isaac Fromme for Mr.
Kessler.
The bare facts OF the case are that
Oscar Hammerstein sat In his private
box In the theatre of Roster & Bal,
which he owns, and Kissed the per-
formance Of Mile. Di Dio. a German
chanteuse electriQue, as she is billed
George Kessler, wine agent and man
about-town, sat in his own box and,
approving OF the singing and hearing
the Kisses, came forth and collided with
Mr.. Hammerstein.
After a series of uuarrels and fisticuffs
covering the lapse of about an hour,
both men were arrested and later balled
out.
Mr.. Hammerstein was first interro-
gated by the Court. He said that he
Kissed ID Dio,s singing because he didn't
like it. Mr.. Kessler came into his box
and rudely berated him for kissing. He
then went for a policeman. Later Mr..
Kessler came into his private office and
How about the blows?" asked Justice
Voorhis.
II have no complaint on that score"
replied Mr.. Hamperstein. THAT was a
fair exchange"
Mr.. Kessier then testified that he did
met him in the gallery behind the boxes,
where he politely reconstructed with
him for his unseemly disturbance; Mr.
elegant language. A policeman, called
by Mr. Hammerstein, would not inter
fere. Later he saw Di DIG in Mr.. Ham.
Tmerstein's office, giving him red-ho'
Mr. Kessler came to the door and was
again yillifed by Mr.. Hammerstein. A
few minutes later, at the street door
struck back, very much to his advan-
tage In the swapping Of honors, as he
said.
Neither man was hurt, and the Judge
did not think that the public interest
demanded the punishment Of the priso
ners:
playgoer," said the Judge, delivering his
opinion. ito express his approval OF. a
performance by some reasonable and in.
offensive demonstration 1t is also
quite as much his right to ,evinee hi.
either case, the applause or disapprova
| must be expressed in an orderly man
ner. and II 1t is SO done. no one has
the right to challenge him for that ex
"The Kissing of the one defendant
seems to have been the inspiring cause
of the trouble that succeeded but
to which you have both been subjecte
already is sufficient punishment, and
dismiss you with a warning not to com,
| before me again in this light"
lawyer, while Mr.. Kessler fingered
few minutes with the Roster g. Bia
crowd. Both men said they would pro
Mr.. Hammerstein was asked by ar
Evening World" reporter why he haC
Missed Di Dio. He replied it was be
cause her songs were Indecent.
He was determined. he said. that II HI
have have that sort q thing in his house. "'
1t is apparent that relations ar,
strained between Messrs. Roster & Bia
and Mr.. Hammerstein. The two show
men and Manager Cline were grouped
together upon one side OF the court
while Mr.. Hammerstein sat alone witt
his lawyer. There was no exchange o
recognition between the two sides. Mr.
Hammerstein admitted guardedly tina
he did not altogether approve OF tn,
police of Roster & Bial, while Mr.. Clin
would not talk about the differences.
II was said that owing TO the straine'
Mr.. Hammerst Elm, action for the ap
pointment Of a receiver Of the musi
halls affairs would be begun.
At the Office of Fromme Bros, Mr.. Her
man Fromme said to an "Evenin
World" reporter to-day that they ha
received no instructions from Roster
Bial to begin such action.
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