The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-09
ROW ON THE CASINO ROOF.
YOUNG MANS EJECTMENT DREAMS
UP THE PERFORMANCE.

Rainy Night Audience Guyed the Perform
ers and Riied tho stage Manager-Youth
He Singled Out Refused to BIO bounced
and was Roughly Handled and Arrested.
Anyone on the Casino Roof Garden last night
would have thought that he was In Bowery
concert hall In the palmy days OF that thorough
fare. An audience OF about 300 persons had
gathered to witness the show but the rain fell
and they hurried under the shelter OF small
tent stretched over the front rows OF sents
This did not put the spectators In bad humor.
They laughed and joked with each other. and
as the show was not especially to their liking.
they began to guy the performers
Stage Manager Lawrence. who is a tall
well-built man. presently announced
from the stage that NJ. and Mile.
Degue would oblge In operate selec-
tions. As the singers came out on the stage a
young man seated near the front turned to his
friends and announced. There's Jean de
Reszke and Emma Eames." This raised a
laugh and angared Mr.. Lawrence.
Lawrence left the stage, ard walking
down to the young man. who was n
well dressed youth wearing glasses. ordered
him to quit making so much noise. The
young man replied that he was not making any
more noise than anybody else and that he was
threatened to put him out and the young man
laughed at him. Then Lawrence grew
angrier.
stand up and I'll knock you down." shouted
Lawrence
The young man stood up and Lawrence
promptly knocked him down. The young
mans glasses fell from his face. but he got UP
and. though tho smaller man. struck back ut
Lawrence But Lawrences blow had been tho
signal for grand rush OF walters and
the other employees OF the roof garden. A
lively time ensusd. Tables were overturned.
glasses were smashed. chairs were upset
and broken. women screamed and men swore.
Finally the young man was thrown down one
flight OF stairs. hustled into the ele-
vator and taken to the lobby. whore he
was turned over to Central Office Detective
Foye. who Is assigned to duty at the theatre.
Foye in turn gave him into the custody OF Po-
liceman Hauck. OF the West Thirtisth street
station. who took him away.
The young man was thoroughly dilapidated
when he reached the station His straw
hat was torn to ribbons his clothing was
torn and soed and two small streams
OF blood were trickling down his
face. which was covered with bruises. He said
he was Charles II. Williams. % years old. a
real estate agent. OF III West 134th street.
James Lederer OF tho roof garden soon ar
rived at the station to press q charge
OF disorderly conduct against Williams
While Lawrence was telling his story
thirty men and two women who had been
among the audience. came into the station and
said that they wanted to testify. They all
declared that Williams had been no
more noisy than anybody else, and
that Lawrence had brutally beaten and as
saulted him without cause. At this
evidence, Mr.. Lederer said he did
not wish TO prefer any particular
charge against the prisoner. especially as
Mr.. Williams had already said that he was
sorry for what he had done.
Il am sorry that l made q noise" said Will
liams. but can't seelthat did anything more
than anybody else. and | am sure that did
nothing that would allow your people to beat
me the way they did. They assaulted me in
the elevator. too"
Manager Lederer said that he guessed the
best thing to do was to let the matter drop
and all OF the parties LETT the station
The row had broken up the show
although the rest OF the programme
was carried out. 1t was given to empty bench
es however. Z. f. Rice. for whom Ledsrer
manages the show. called at the station later
and in talking to the reporters. deprecated
what had happened. He said he was sorry
that his walters had acted 30 precipitately.