The herald., 1895-06-19
Met With a Succession of Cold
FrOstS
WERE LEFT IN THE LURCH
Most Of the Members Stranded High
and Dry
Manager J. p. Howe Started Out Without a
Gent and Ran Into Snow Storm.
His Sudden Flight

unable management of J. p. Howe,
ban Francisco theatrical man, is thing
OF the past. Rumors have been floating
around for some time to the effect that
Howe had skipped from Santa Barbara,
leaving his company in the lurch and
owing salaries and hotel bills.
A Herald reporter ascertained that Miss
Rose Stillman, Miss Hattie Foley and
Lorimer tombstone and wife, row playing
at the Burbank, were victims OF Howe's
Encouragement, and yesterday after
noon called upon Miss Stillman and MISS
Foley at the Hoffman house. Miss Still
man freely gave her version OF the case,
the same time expressing sympathy
Cor Howe's predicament. From her re-
pressons by Miss Foley. it appears that
in the early part of May. Howe organized
a company in San Francisco, alleging
that he had ample funds to land his COM
pany in New York in about six weeks
time from. the day of leaving San Fran
professionals, who were anxious to return
to New York City. Howe succeeded in
securing their services at about half going
,wages. He did this by specious promises
to soon land them in New York City, the
actors home and rallying point. thus
He was to do this by playing across
country, making stops at Phoenix, Ell
Paso, Denver. Kansas City and Chicago.
and finally terminating the engagement
in New York City, where those who
wished to remain with him would be re-
engaged. The company first appeared at
Fresno. where they met with fair sue
cess. They then went to San Bernardino
snd Riverside, where they Jared badly.
To make matters worse, their engage
ment in this city met with dou ble-coated
frost. and it was only with the assist
ance of Proprietor Gaty of the Sata Bar
bara opera house, that Howe was allowed
to remove the trunks of his company
irom the Hoffman house here. 1t APP
pears that Howe relied upon his income
to pay his way along the circuit. But
the dollars did not materialize as expec-
ted. The company opened at Santa Bar
bara, and there met with no better sue
cess than at former stands, the result
being that Howe made sudden exit one
Saturday afteroon from the city of flowers
without liquidating his company's in
,debtedness at the hotel or paying the
members of the company their salaries.
He did not even say goodby, and there
the members of the troupe were left
STRANDED high and dry. Mr.. Gaty, the
owner OF the Santa Barbara opera house,
becams responsible tor the company's
debt at the hotel.
y so small that none Of the company could
possibly have lost much. HE was just
% cents indebted to me when he suddenly
left Santa Barbara. because l demanded
my salary in advance. l don't know
what he owed other members of the com
pany. but | understand Mr.. and Mrs.
Florence had a balance due them. Mr..
Howe falsely represented matters. l un-
derstand he did not have cent when he
left San Francisco, depending. entirely
upon the receipts lie contemplated re-
ceiving at the various performances. OF
course, he did not act right IN running
away without saying word. He was
unfortunate, but at the same time that
does not excuse his peculiar cond uct. >"
Miss Foley stated she had escaped as a
creditor because she also had requested
her salary in advance but she was I'M
posed upon by false statements. The ex-
members of the American Girl company
now in the city are: Rose Stillman,
Hattie Foley, Mr.. and Mrs. Lorimer john
stone, Mr.. and Mrs. Florence anu Frank
Nelso. The other members OF the COM
pany departed from Santa Bar bara by
boat FOR San Francisco. disguised lot.
J. p. Howe is well-known in, San Fran
cisco, being at one time identified with
Stockwell's and the Alcazar theaters.
Young Jimmy Horne, nephew of Miss
GeCrgie WOodthorpe, was Il victim, and is
now stopping with his aunt in this city.
Howe was kind enough to send "a note by
Master Horne to Fred Cooper stating he
was unable to pay the amount due Horne,
as he was financially embarrassed. To
tie olher members of the company he
did not intimate that he was financially
distressed, leading the troupe to believe
he had sufficient funds to meet his obliga-
tons.
Miss Stillman states she intends to re-
main in Los Angeles for a while, as she
is very much in love with the place. Her
tI, Il
Saturday night, and she will then take a
rest for several months.