The times., 1897-04-27
EUGENE 1ABER's ssTAR PART
Played the Sleek SwindIer True
to Nature.
SEVERAL BOYS TAKEN In
One OF Them Was Told That He
Was To Play the Role of a Farmer
and Needed Dress Suit for 1t.
Several Sums of Money Obtained
Under False Pretenses.

| Eugene G. Taber, who claims to be a
| theatrical manager, and says ne is in
| Washington to engage comedians for a
summer comedy company, was in the po-
| Iice court yesterday morning. charged with
vagiancy and suspicion Taber has adj
| vertised in the local papers for several days
| past asking a II yqungmen who had d pIede-
LECTION for Thespian honors to call at his
rooms, at No. zIo New Jersey avenue
Several young men answered the adver-
| tisement, and were required by Taber To
leave SO, which, he said, W ould 20 toward
purchasing costumes, The would-ie actors
were told little of the prospective company
or the parts they We're 10 assume One of
them finally became suspicious and noti-
fled Detectives Carter and Gallaher. These
officers investigated and reached Taber's
rooms Saturday night just in tine to pre-
vent several irate young men from visiting
their wrath on the alleged theatrical mama
ger.
These young ineD were all in court yester-
day morning, ,andthey gavesome very anus
ing testimony. Taber, who has yellow hair
and dull eyes, sat by his lawyer ami bit
his fiIgcr-nails uneasiiy After detective.
Garter had testified to arresting Taber.
Williams x Chappeil. OF No s2l c street.
was called. ChappeiI is boyish b;oking
fellow with weak chin and q burning
desire TO shine on the boards He wore
green tie aud cigarette button on his
coat He said:
Il answered Mr.. Tdber's advertisement
Thursday. | was the first sucker, guess
He said he wanted two BOYS ana girls from
here TO actin "A comedy compan this sum
mer. We were to leave here at O'Clock
next Thursday morning and 60 TO Roches-
ter. He told me 4 would play the part
OF couDtryman. and that would need
a dress suit and would have to give him
SIS. I thought it kind OF funny that a
conntrymau should wear a dress suit in
a play, but Taber said he thought would
fit the part capitaIly
Friday night" continued Chapper. I'VE
went ont and blew the Sf5-or, at least.
Taber did, The next morning Taber told
me he had had dream. and that his
father. who was TO back the Company,
wanted him to get six boys and
girls and take them TO wiIliamsport. Pa,
where they would get their costumes
He said we would need overcoats, and that
would be $40 more each
II thought that was kind OF funny, as
he had spent all my money the night be-
fore. Well, within an hour after he told
me about his dream he showed me letter
which. he said, came from his father, and
il said 10 get six boys and girls and over
coats for the boys. l thought that was
about the quickest work l had ever seen
for "a dream ! got suspicious then, and
wanted nay money back but he srnoothe.l
things over Then he made me his pri-
vaie secretary, and 1 drew up contracts
for tim. 1t was hard work getting some
= tfe others I was the first, and was
easy. don't think I want to be an actor,
after all
Joseph Il. Man min & testified that he had
signed contract with Taher and had been
required to leave $40 for costumes He had
and gave T Tat,t.r ringas security.
The ring, said the witness, was afterward |
found in the possession OF woman in ths: |
Division
Taber took the stand and attempted to |
explain that he was a legitimate theatrical |
agent and manager. He said he had sent |
the money he had received from those who
had signed contracts, to a eostumer in |
New York, named Deyernon His state
nents were rather conflicting, and when
asked il he desired to have his references
Investigated. he at ffrstsaid yes and after
ward stated thathe preferred to have the
ease settled now
Judge kiTnball said he had no doubt |
Taber intended to defraud those who had |
his advertiseme and Imposed
sentence ofthree monthsin the workhouse