The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-27
SNOWMAN REEVES
HAS BEGUN SUIT
Sensational Incident at Davis Theater
Last April Recalled.
THE CURTAIN WAS RUNG DOWN
Fannie Thatcher and Ethel Milton
Were Singing TO Man in the Au-
dience when Mr.. Davis Put n Sud-
don Stop TO It--The Words That
Passed Between MIR. Davis and Mr..
Reeves Afterwards Are the Basis
OF the Suit.

When Fannie Thatcher and Ethel
Milton, Of the Al. Reeves Big Burlesque
show, sang their song "Oh, You Little
Darling" at the same time pointing
out the darling" in the big audience at
Davis theater away back in the after
noon of the 5th day of April, this year,
they probably little thought of the
trouble they were brewing. Fannie
Thatcher is large, very large, and the
other half of the team is small They
had been warned against firing their
ammunition at individuals in the seats,
but Fannie Thatcher and Ethel Milton
know no rules.
As result Of the breach and subse-
quent happenings on that eventful day
AL Reeves, the proprietor of the show,
who also plays a banjo, began suit be-
fore Alderman o. b. Wright yesterday
for the recovery of $106.35, which he al
leges is due him on a verbal contract
forced upon Mr. Davis, owner of the
theater, after the unpleasant incident.
The summons will be served upon Mr..
Davis today.
About 500 persons well remember the
sensational finish to the song. Mr..
Davis himself went to the stage and,
with his own hands, lowered the cur
tain. The play at the expense of the
audience, was against the printed rules
of the house. The company. Mr.. Davis
said, had been warned against such
conduct and his action in cutting off
Thatcher and Milton was the only way
left to enforce the rules.
SHOW PROCEEDED.
After a delay of several minutes,
during which the audience only guess
ed what was going on behind the
scenes, the show proceeded. After the
performance Reeves waited upon Mr..
Davis ana announced his determine
tiCn to close there and then. Not
single other performance would be Civ
en- at the theater. Moreover his COM
pany, said Reeves, would not play at
Ringhamton where Reeves company
was billed.
Reeves in his bill of particulars,
after saying that Mr.. Davis, the de-
fendant, took exceptions to certain
things in the show goes on to tell
now the plaintiff (Reeves) positively
refused to give any more performances
under the same engagement, claiming
that the lowering of the curtain by
said defendant during the progress Of
the first performance would SO great
ly reduce the attendance at subseq-
uent performances that to continue
under the original condition would
prove Improbable to said plaintiff"
And whereas, after the above men,
toned performance was over said de-
fendant called upon plaintiff at the
st. Charles hotel, where he was stop
ping, and asked him to continue his
shows for the remainder of the three
days, saying that it would injure the
reputation Of the theatre if there was
any trouble and no performance
Plaintiff refused to continue under the
old engagement but did agree to con-
tinue the engagement if said defendant
would guarantee him an amount equal
to that he received for his last pre-
vious appearance in the same theatre
which amount said defendant then and
there promised and agreed to give him
in consideration of his company COM
pleting their three days engagement
THE AGREEMENT.
"And whereas said plaintiff and his
company did continue to play at said
defendants house for the three days
as originally billed with the express
understanding and agreement that
plaintiff was to receive for his own
and his companys services the said
sum-"
Reeves concludes that Mr.. Davis still
owes him $106.33 on the side contract
made at the st. Charles. John II.
Perry, a member Of the company, gives
his sworn statement as a witness of
the transaction, said statement being
q part of the bill of particulars, q copy
of which will be sent Mr.. Davis today.
The bill is drawn by Attorney Frank
f.. Boyle and George w. Marshall at
taches his name as a witness. 1t was
arranged when Mr.. Reeves played an
engagement at the Davis last week.
Mr.. Davis, when seen last night, was
averse TO discussing the matter. He
did not think it necessary.
Admitting that he had made a YER
| bal contract with Reeves, it was done
under stress and according to law and
morals could not stand in the place of
the regularly black and white contract
made previously. The rules of the
house had been broken, this has not
| been denied. and Reeves nevertheless
| forced the contract upon him.
Dec. 8 is set for the time for filing an
affidavit of defense.