The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-12-03
TROUBLE AMONG"TH THREE
GUARDSMEN."
The Company Cancels Some
Dates andLeaves For Chicago,
Where 1t May Be ReOrganized
IA Leading Actor Left in
MankatO===Tried to Have the
Manager Arrested.

''The Three Guardsmen" was pre-
Sentsd to fair houses at the theatre
Friday and Saturday nights
There was little bye play
behind the scenes before the curtain
rose each night that the audience did
not learn Of. Geo A. D. Johnson.
who took the two leading roles Of
Athos and the Duke of Buckingham.
refused to perform his part until his
daily salary was paid. He repeated
this each night last week, and Mana
ger Joseph Flutka decided to cancel
his further engage mentS in the west
and return to Chicago and reOrganize
the company. He left yesterday with
all of the members of the company eX-
cept Mr.. Johnson, whose railroad fare
he refused to pay. The dates can
celled were those at Watertown and
on to Winnipeg, covering period of
two weeks. After that time, it has
dates at the Lincoln the atre and the
Academy in Chicago, which it intends
to fulfill.
Mr.. johnson sought to play even
with Manager Flutka yesterday by
having him arrested on the charge of
theft, in removing the actors trunks
from the theatre to the depot with
out permission. Mr.. Johnson con-
suited County Attorney Hughes. but
the latter did not give him much en-
enlargement. The actor then found
solace in the flowing bowl, and forgot
his troubles for time. He is still 10
the city, guest of the City Hotel,
and is still anxious for revenge. He
says that he will make another en-
deavor to secure warrant for the
manager. Mrs. Johnson claimed the
trunks, and left one with her hus-
band.
Mr.. Johnson is an actor of some
prominence in his profession. He has
been leading man with SalvIni and
O'Neil and has starred jointly with
Selma Hermann under S. NJ Brady
and Sidney r. Ellis as managers. He
has been a member of "The Three
Guardsmen" company since Oct. Isl.
Mr.. Johnson was seen by a FREE
PRESS reporter today, and gave his
account of the trouble as follows:
manager Fultka owes me $3.50 back
salary. A week or two ago | received
an offer from Sidney r. Ellis, manager
of Darkest Russia" and Bonnie
Scotland" He is an old manager Of
mine, and l told Mr.. F,utka of my
offer. Under consideration of being
paid my salary nightly last week
agreed to remain with Mr.. Fiutka.
My salary is 500 week, and he paid
me every night according to the
agreement. Saturday night be pad
me after the second act, from the x
receipts, but | had little trouble in
getting it. He gave his promise to
pay me, and there Was no delay in the
curtain rising.
"Mr. FultKa owes the various mem
bers of the company about So, OO0 in
the aggregate. L believe he owes all
of them not less than 800 each on
salary, and he owes some more than
that. He owes my wife $3.50 He is
worth about $4,000, aud we can geL
our money, if we nave to sue him for
it, which | propose to do for my
claim of $3.50. He made his money
out of the privileges OF the base bali
park at Philadelphia, and also has
some milk wagons. The trouble with
him is that he is stage struck and is
so anxious to get himself and wife in
to histrlonic favor that he is willing
touse the rest of us for tools He will
pay dear for this. | only regret that
/ couldn't Jug him yesterday. All of
the members of the company stood
for their pay last week, but was the
only one who won out. l belong To
the Actors Society of America, and
Robert Ingersoll is it's attorney, SO
will have protection.
Il can pay my way to Chicago, and
shall 60 there and play with the COM