Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-03-10


night.
There was heavy tragedy and side
splitting comedy at the Grand Opera
House last night, but it was not enact
ed upon the stage. 1t took place in the
box office and lobby of the theatre, and
the situations were decidedly melodra-
matte at times. The Cold Day" COM
pany held the boards, but the perform
ance was not given, and therby hangs d
tale.
The "Cold Day" Company showed in
Sistersyille Saturday night Trouble
had been brewing for some time, and
the crisis came Sunday in this city,
when Perkins D. Fisher, manager OF
the company, notified Mr.. J. j. Cur
vile and Miss Pauline Harvey, that
their services were no longer required.
Yesterday Miss Harvey retained NJ. +.
Dryden as her attorney, and brought an
attachment suit before Justice w. II.
Peterman, to cover back salary OF Slt6,
which she claimed was due her when
she played with the company three
years ago.
About five minutes before the time
for the curtain to go up, Mr.. Dryden APP
peared at the theatre, accompanied by
Constable Steve Wilcox, and served the
attachment paper upon Mr.. Fisher. The
attorney directed Wilcox to seige the
h. Hox nf1 NJ OF 9
point matters began to assume tragic
tinge. Manager Feinler had an inter-
est in the receipts, and declined to per-
nit the constable to take the money.
Meanwhile a messenger was sent to At
torney S. G. Smith, who came up III
hurry. and directed an officer to pre-
vent the constable from taking the
money. Wilcox also levied on all the
property on the stage, most OF when
belongs to the theatre.
While these scenes were being enact
ed. theaudience was growing impatient,
and the frequent entrances and exits
from the stage door proved that some
thing was wrong. The orchestra play
ed continuously. Leader Johann Evans
didn't know what it was all about, until
some person whispered in his ear that
there was "a woman in it," Then the
orchestra struck up She May Have
Seen Better Days" and the audience
went wild. About ten minutes before
nine o'clock, the announcement was
made that owing 10 the illness of Mr..
Fisher, the performance wOuld not be
given. There was a mad scramble for
the door. and the manager was kept
busy for half an hour refunding the ad-
mission money.
While the wrangling was IN progress
in the box Office, Justice w. II. Caldwell
was called to his Office. and the man
ager OF the theatre secured a distress
warrant for rent of the house. This, it
was explained. would take precedence
over the claim for salary.
Mr. Fisher. after considering the mat
ter, decided last night that ne will not
attempt to give a performance tonight.
To a Register reporter he talked freely
about the trouble in the company, and
his reasons for discharging the two rer-
sons. AS TO Miss Harvey he said, Il
don't owe her cent. She was paid IN
full Sunday. and discharged and | took
her receipt" He produced a paper
reading as follows:
A COLD DAY co.
Received Of Fisher d FraunhaT,
twenty-five dollars, salary in full pay
ment of all demands
(Signed PAULINE HARVEY.
March, SO.
This case has been set for next Mon
day. We cannot remain here and can
eel our engagements. We propose to
find out who is on Miss Harvey's bond,
and bring action against him, or if no
bond has been given, we may bring ac-
ton against the Justice, as he is re-
sponsible."
Miss Harvey called at the Register
Office in company with her attorney, to
state her side of the case. Il had no
intimation that | would be discharged
until after | signed the receipt for my
weeks salary" she said. The action
which / brought is for wages due when
was with Mr.. Fishers company three
years ago. When | came with him this
season he promised to settle up the old
account He will not attempt to repu-
date the bill.
"Mr. Fisher would have the people
think this attachment is the reason the
performance was not given tonight
Now, I'll tell you the real reason. He
knew at ten minutes of eight that he
could not play the show. There were
two new persons in the cast, who had
rehearsed only once, and besides one
lady was lying at her hotel in an unfit
condition She could not possibly have
gone on the stage last night"
There were several misunderstand-
ings between Mr.. Dryden, Mr. Feinler,
and others Mr.. Feinler says he has
had to deal with many attachments in