Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1895-02-28
M'kEE RANKIN ARRESTED.
CHARGED wIrU OBTAINING BOARD
By FALSE PRETENshs.
His Lcriing Man and Leading Lady Also
Taken in Custody-iiad TO Play with
out Their Customary supper
Under Bond.

Mckee Rankin, who won fame In the
character of candy Mct;ee In "The Dan
ties" when the border drama was in the
height of Its glory. and who made fortunes
IN that play and "n" only to dlsslpatc
them in a grand spectacular production OF
Macbeth" in New York city and who is
now playing again In "The Danltcs" at the
Ninth street opera house, was arrested by
Constable Brennan at the Ccniropolls hotel
last night on a charge OF obtaining board
by fraud Barney Miller. who plays the
Parson. Miss L. O'Nclll who plays as
Billie, aud +. J. Johnston, the property
man. all Of the same company were also
arrested on the same charge The arrests
were made on complain, OF T. X Criloy,
manager Of the Ccntropolis hotel Mr..
Rankin and his players owed the hotel
about $50. according to the bills made out
by the hotel management.
Mckee Rankin and the threo members
OF his company who were arrested with
MN were guests Of the hotel at the time
the warrants were served on them. Mr..
RANKIN was the first of the players ar
rested All were taken into custody as they
we're entering the hotel for supper. Their
rooms were locked and they had no ad-
fmttance to them. and at 1850 o'clock. when
theN were released by Justice Erueccr.
they hurried to the opera house lust in time
10 20 the stage in the opening act. They
wgnt gh, to . work without their suppers.
ihs arrests Were made under the gct on
tltleu An act for the protection Of inn
Naisin NNHiyi,ets anu Others as well as under the
stopping AT the Ccntropolls lust ono week
anu their engagement at the Ninth Street
opera mouse was not TO end until Saturday
asked Rankin TO settle his hlIls ON Weines.
DAY, and he said he would do So according
people asked aMEn for FS9rsay inS hots tS
q week BOARD for himself and his players
whhg59 we're stopping at. the hotel. Rankin
theater and get enough of the box receipts
Tor the afternoon matinee to compensate
himself for their board. According to the
constable. Manager Criley called at the
Don ,ottice and was Informed by Manager
olark LAR 60 of the opera house that the show
for money advanced and for other purposes
Attachment suits We're then threatened.
bin OF, sale from Rankin, transferring to
MN all the property of his company. Then
had been made concerning the payment
of the bills, and on that ground warrants
We're sworn out for the. arrest Of the four
theatrical boarders before Justice Krue-
ger; Rankin did not deny the bills present
efd by hii the hotel for payment, and said that
The res Of s Ray 5rm a along out of
Miss o'Nell was, very much affected
Sgye SH[r hSr come t o thak that j should
rested and taken out of the hotel where
you are a guest and marched through the
streets to a Justices court. It's cruel
Rankin was moved by Miss o'NelIrs dis
,ress and tried to comfort her. 1T does
tens OF thousands with hotel keepers, dur
ing over thirty years on the stage, to be
steal s2o Worth S,5 h. OF boa board ' Fiat 81 remark ma
able law that can be stretched to such an
outrageous extent as this, and think it
After a long wait in the Justices court,
during which messengers were sent out in
ninth Street opera house, put IN his ap-
pearance. and signed bonds of Sl0o each
for the -four players, and they We're re-
morrow morning at 10 o'clock The Dan
ties" viii be given AT the, Ninth street
opera house as usual tonight
MIR. Rankin was seen last evening after
the performance at the theatcr, concerning
the arrest, and stated that 1t was the most
that 1t was his intention to make legal
fight. He said; II have been in the pro-
fession for thirty-four years, and for twen-
" years have been known from ocean TO
ocean as mamaser ana star; have in
always met my obligations No one has
suffered loss through any act of mine,
even with all Of the hard times and the
ups ana downs of the business in that long
time. Now at this time. when lust getting
over a run of hard luck in the business,
and when am grandfather, this man
rushes into the courts Of the city and stig
matizGs me as thief. II would he unrea-
sonahle that any man should tamely sub
Just think of the matter. | have been
advertised In the city for two weeks. ana
am now advertised with my company to
take part free IN performance for the
charity fund of the Provident Association,
Friday evening, and Just at this time ] am
hauled into the courts for n pittance of $50,
and because II was not convenient at that
time TO pay the amount, sock to have the
entire company branded as dishonest and a
lot OF hotel beats. our baggage Is at the
the hotel, and this action came entirely un-
cNpectedly and was unwarranted.
For the next three weeks | have good
engagements with my company, and this
i'm the city and meet this matter, and have
the justice of the action fully tested In the
courts ! have property worth fully $780,
OGO but like many others. | am not able to
realize on It at moments notice, and like
some other people. am somewhat scarce of
weeks loss of time ocCasioned by the
breaking of our contracts with Crawford
on his circuit, There are plenty Of men in
the country who are not able to meet their
when they know they are due, but II seems
incredible that, for that reason, the law
would brand a man as n thief. / do not
believe II, nnd so | shall stay in the city
with the nine members of my company.
and unless this outrage Is corrected
promptly ! shall ask for compensation for
the shameful treatment that was shown
me | have been I'm the busnss too long
not to know my rights, and / am not
man who will tamely submit to such an
cured. and will he paid, and the wrong
done mo and the stigma cast upon my
| good name will not he allowed to remain
unchallenged, | have too many good
| friends in this and other cities TO be made
| the victim OF such an action"