Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31
whcn wanted Most the Heavy villain
Fails to Appear.

when wanted Most the Heavy villain
Fails to Appear.
1t appears very likely and probable that
f. l.. Hilliker has worked f. L. Sterling,
manager of the Wellesley Players" who
are occupying the boards of Boyd's theater
at the present time. for about $50. II also
seems very likely and probable that Man
agsr Sterling will have to whistle for his
money, unless by chance he will be able to
get hold of some of Mr.. Hilliker's clothing
or property and attach them.
Hilliker was a stranger to the theatrical
manager until something like n couple of
weeks ago. The company was then in MO-
line, ILL.,, and steps were being taken to
strengthen it. One of the principal charac-
tiers was especially weak and the manager
was casting about for some individual to
take the part. In the course of his search
he learned of Hilliker, who was then in
Clinton, Ia. Manager Sterling bought him
self a ticket to the Iowa town and went
there to see about hiring Hilliker. Hilliker
and his wife were tied down in the hotel.
They could not leave because the hotel pro-
prletor was holding their trunks for a board
bill. The couple alleged that they had been
members of a company that had been stranded
in the town. Sterling believed the story,
He was pleased with Hilliker, although he
had never seen or heard of him before, and
the upshot OF the matter was that he hired
him to do the heavy villain part in some oil
the plays. 1t was arranged that Hilliker was
to come to Omaha and join the company here
on the first night of the engagement, which
was last Tuesday. By that time Hilliker
was to be posted in his part. The theatrical
manager settled the beard bill OF the Hill
kers and purchased tickets for them to this
city. All Of this cost him Just $50. The
manager then returned to his company.
Hilliker came to Omaha, arriving last sun
day night. He put up at the Mercer hotel.
Tuesday night the Wellesley Players pre-
pared to give their first performance at the
Boyd. Just as the curtain WAS about to go
up it was discovered that Hilliker was miss
ing. He could not be found and it would
not do tt cut the heavy villain out of the
play. Fortunately another member of the
company knew the lines and he took the
part in addition to his own. In order to do
so he was compelled to switch" costumes
with a velocity that would have made him a
fortune on a variety stage. Hilliker was
locked up the next day. 1t was found that
he had gone and that Manager Wink Taylor
was also mourning his departure to the ex-
tent of Sc. the beard bill that he had left
behind as a memento of his visit. 1t was
learned that he had gone to Coin, Ia.
at was terrible" said Manager Sterling,
as the perspiration stood out on his brow
when he told the story in police court yes
terday. "If we had not had another man to
take the part we would have been compelled
to call off the performance, and cancel the
engagement and our company would have
been stranded in the city" The manager
wanted to discover some means by which
he could punish Hilliker. 1t was found that
he could do nothing. Hilliker had not com
mitted a felony and therefore requisition
papel3 could not be issued for his arrest in
Iowa. The manager was sent away with
advice to find some OF Hilliker's trunks and
attach them for his bill.
The theatrical manager is of the opinion
that Hilliker lived somewhere in this sec
ton of the country and simply worked him
for The nricn of Tho faro home