The San Francisco call., 1897-04-16
MA ANGELINE AND
DORA DEANE
Two Melodies as Like as
Two Peas in a
Pod.
Two Colored Men of the Same
Shade Calling Each Other
Plagiarists.
Forty.Nine Mining Camp Of the Mid.
winter Fair Comes to the Front
for Recognition.

"Who is the composer Of Ma Ange-
line ?" is the question now occupying the
attention of United States Commissioner
Heacock.
Two colored men lay claim to the honor,
Charles Sydney Smith and Bert Williams.
Williams says that he composed "Dora
Deane," and the musicians say that the
melody of "Ma Angeline" is identical
with it.
James II. Love, formerly connected with
the '49 Mining Camp at the Midwinter Fair,
made affidavit that he heard ma Ange-
line" sung in the camp year SO before
Williams composed 'Dora Deane."
Broder & Schlam recently asked United
States Circuit Judge McKenna for an in
junction restraining the Zeno Mauvais
music. store from selling "Ma Angeline,"
on the ground that 1t was an infringe
ment on the copyright of Dora DeaDe."
The matter was referred to Commissioner
Reacock to take testimony, and the pro-
ceedings began yesterday.
Pierre Duryee, advertising agent and
secretary of the '49 Mining Camp at the
Midwinter Fair in this City, testified that
he heard the song for the first time about
Christmas, 1895. and 1t W as at the Orpheum.
1t would have been impossible for that
song to have been sung in any part of the
camp without his having known it.
Eugene Hahn, journalist, formerly one
of the proprietors of the camp, said that
he never heard ''Ma Angeline" sung there
by Charles Sydney o. Brien Or by any one
else. and did not know OF any colored
man being on the payroll.
Phil Hastings corroborated the testi-
mony of the other witnesses to the effect
that he never heard MA Angeline" sung
at the camp.
~ have a very good car for music" re-
marked Mr.. Hastings with a harmonic
chromatic smile, land IL it had been sung
there would have rememb bered it."
J. Williamson, coloreo, of 1c06 Clay
street, was called to tell what he knew Of
a song composed by Bert Williams. He
said that Williams came to his house and
"ran over" tune on the piano. 1t was
song without a name. Williams said that
he was at work composing a song. and that
it was going to be the hottest thing out"
Then he said he had to go homo to work
on his song.
Peter Diaz, musician, of z Bernard
street, was piano player for the ST. Ber-
nard dog show, and enlivened the spirits
of the dogs and the visitors with Wag-
merriam and other selections, but "Ma An
geline' and Dora Deane" were not
among them, and the big dogs were not
treated to that bit oil delightful melody.
Ii Ma Angeline'' had been born at that
repertoire, because he was on the lookout
for new dance music, Ma Angeline" be-
ing of that order.
Thomas w. Flanagan, the barkeeper at
the Midway Plaisance, on Market street,
told how Bert Williams (colored) had
been working at the com position of Dora
Deane" on the piano next the bar every
night for two or three months until it was
finished, which was about August, 1895.
Villa ms then sang it on the stage every
night, and the attaches took up the chorus
in order to make it interesting for the
guests. Charles Sydney O'Brien used to
come in and out while the song was being
sung, and about year ago he sang Ma
Angeline" there. The witness at once
recognized the similarity between the
two melodies,
An affidavit from Marcus Blum was
read to the effect that there was no "Ma
AngeIine" at the Midwinter Fair.
Maurice Earl of 666H Minna street, mu-
sician, heard Charles Sydney O'Brien
singing in the Coney Island lunch place
at the Midwinter Fair, but never heard
him sing anything resem bling Ma An
geline." Never heard O'Brien sing q song
in that tempo. Witness was a drum mer
Alfred Roncovieri, bandmaster, did not
meet MA Angeline" till some time after
the close of the fair.
The taking of testimony will be contin.
ued on April 26 at 10:30 A. NJ.