The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-16

Macon row to a Morning News reporter.
I'VE were at the depot" he said. Il had
contract with Manager Budd of the Ma
con theater made by him for Mansfield
by which Mansfield was to transfer our
baggage for $500. When our baggage man
went to pay Mansfield at the depot he de-
manded $50, whereas his contract only
called for $500. Mansfield declared that
Budd was not authorized to make such a
contract for him. was sent for and had
some talk with Mansfield. / regarded il
as merely as attempt on Mansnelds part
to gouge me, because the company was
compelled to leave on that train and I so
stated Some strong language passed and
Mansfield struck me with something he
had in his hand, breaking my hat and
causing my glasses to cut me under the
eye. He then ordered his teamster to
drive off with three pieces of scenery that
were still on the truck. Mr. Frieze, our
baggage man. attempted to stop the truck,
and Mansfield and another man who was
with him both jumped on him. / ran back
to the car where the company was told
them what was going on. -Four or I'VE of
them jumped off the car and ran back with
me. When Mansfield and his crowd saw
us coming they ran off and our men took
the baggage and put it aboard the train
The train had been held for US for several
minutes, on account of the row and i'm
mediately pulled out soon as we got
aboard. There was no riot and nearly all
the fighting was done by Mansfield and his
friend Nixon. After the latter had run
off some distance he drew a pistol from his
pocket and fired two shots in the air. He
was seen to do this by one of our men.
These are the shots which we are charged
with firing. The whole thing is an out
rage. 1t is the worst trick / have ever
known to be played on a theatrical COM
pany since / have been in the business,
and thar is a pOOd many wears
Manager COoney is likely to lose several
hundred dollars, as the result of his re-
fusal to give up $3.50, at the demand of a
Macon transfer man, besides the great
veXation and trouble the affair has already
cost him. The company was to have gone
to Charleston Monday night. This engage
ment has been Cancelled Manager Cooney
hopes to arrange to give a performance
in Macon Monday night and thus make
expenses. He offered to sell the house in
Macon to Chief Butner for $500, and the
latter says that he will accept the offer
if the Macon theater is not engaged for
Monday night His expenses, Manager
Cooney says, are $500 a day. From Macon
he viii go to Atlanta, to which point he
intended to go from Charleston.
Chief Butner returned to Macon last
night with $3.50 in his pocket, belonging to
the members of the Collins Company hav-
ing required each one of the fourteen ac-
tors charged by the city of Macon with
disorderly conduct to put up $25 as security
for appearance, to answer to the charges
against them in that city. The money was
paid over by Manager Cooney, rather than
have any trouble, though he was informed
by ths police officers that Chief Butner
could make no arrest on such charge
here. A police officer described it last
night as a case Of shake down." and pre-
dicted that each member Of the company
charged with having taken part in the
Macon row would be fined the full amount
deposited with Chief fSutner. The left
handed advertising which the treatment
by the authorities Of Macon will give that
town will not add to it's popularity with
theatrical people