Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-20
n e R RIM ANN is ERE
His Stage araphernalia Released From the
Laws Clutches.
His Manager Tells the Story Of the
Difficulty and How the
go Case Stands. LA -ss

Professor Hermann, the prestidigitator.
Mrs. Hermann seventeen members of ths
company and two car loads Of the baggage
and pharaphernalia that the professor uses
IN his performance, arrived here this morn
Ing and the engagement will begin this
evening.
As stated in The Star yesterday after
noon, the wizard was delayed in New York
enmeshed in a legal knot, but, like a true
magician, he was not long involved In the
bonds Of the law. 1t is rather a curious
fact that Professor Hermann, who has
played to crowded houses for years, should
have been delayed in the metropolis by a
legal difficulty involving only 5000
The trouble was the outgrowth of a legal
complication in which Professor Hermann
got mixed up with Lawyer j. ]. Frank,
and on Saturday the latter took out an at
tachment on Professor Herrmann's prop
erty on an alleged Indebtedness of 5000.
This was. in brief, the story told in The
Star yesterday.
Origin of tho Dfllculty.
This morning a reporter had an inter-
view with Mr.. Edward l.. Bloom, Profess
sor Herrmanns manager, and according to
Mr.. Blooms story the present situation is
one of the most remarkable that has ever
arisen in New York legal circles. In 1891
when Professor Hermann had the craze
for investing in theaters he leased a plot
of ground in Brooklyn and paid J. ]. Frank
$2,5OO for passing on the title. A theater
was erected at a cost Of 1927, 900, but after
It's completion the magician learned that q
strip Of land. ~ feet front, in the middle
or his property, was under q cloudy title
and the owner ordered the removal of the
theater, SO that Hermann practically lost
his entire Investment Now comes Frank
and claims an additional 5000 as extra fee
for his services In the transfer Of the
property. Professor Hermann, who lost
over 100000 by the deal, had an idea that
$500 was an ample fee for the legal as
sistance that he received, and now declares
that he will spend any amount of money
In litigation before he Will pay this second
debt. Herrmann's friends claim that he is
not in debt to the extent of a single cent
outside of this transaction with Frank.
Under the impression that rather than
take any chances with his Washington en-
gagement, Hermann would pay his claim,
the lawyer got out an attachment against
the latters property.
An Injunction Against the Sheriff.
Yesterday afternoon Judge Bookstaver
issued an injunction against the sheriff,
his deputies and any other persons, re-
straining them from interfering in any
way with Prof Herrmann's property, as
Judge Pryor had already ordered that
further proceedings in Franks case should
be postponed until next May, in order not
to interfere with the magician's profession
al engagements. Yesterday afternoon at
4 O'Clock the sheriff's jury passed on the
question Of the ownership of the property
and decided that IL rested with Mrs. Herr
mann, having been transferred to her in
1884, two years before Frank instituted his
original suit. The property was valued by
the jury st $4,000. If Frank now desires
to continue his attachment against the
property, according to the laws of New
York, he must give bonds to the amount or
$4,000. In other words. he must ind two
bondsmen who can qualify under $3OO.OUO
real estate each. This is rather a large
amount to have grown out Of a suit for q
trtfling 5000.
The sheriTs Position.
While the sheriffs jury was still denb-
Grating on the subject of the ownership
Of the property Manager Bloom had the
goods well on their way to this city by an
afternoon train. having served the copy
of Judge Bookstaver's judgment on the
proprietors of the storage warehouse,
where the goods were being kept. All this
leaves the sheriff In New York In a very
anomalous condition. He has been indem-
nifed by a bond of $50,OO0 to hold the
property, while at the same time there is
pending against HIM an Injunction
straining him from interfering with the
property. Prof. Hermann claims that
Frank is in contempt for violating Judge
Pryors order, ana expresses his INTENTION
to proceed against the bondsmen for the
full amount of damages involved in the
trouble to which he has been put, his LA
bility to the manager of Albaughs Opera
House and any question that has been
placed upon his financial standing and
responsibility.
Hermann Not bothered.
Tomorrow there will be a hearing in one
of the New York courts on the question
whether the injunction against the sheriff
and others shall be made permanent, but
Hermann and his manager are not much
exercised over the outcome OF the hearing,
as the property is out of the jurisdiction
of the court and cannot be interfered with
anyway until the close of their present
season on the road.