The age-herald., 1899-11-24
THE TREATS WE'RE ON ROLAND REED  Actor the Victim of a Practical
 Joke. KILLED A LARGE BLACK CAT The Family of Deceased Set Up Howl and Reed Was Arrested for
 Killing Game Out of
 Season
KILLED A LARGE BLACK CAT

The treats were on Roland Reed. the fa- nous comedian yesterday, and he did the honors to the queens taste, so to speak.
 MT. Reed is one of the most popular come- dians on the American stage and has hun dreds of admirers in Birmingham. Among the latter is Sheriff o'Bren Who is a warm personal friend
 Yesterday morning Sheriff O'Brien re- ceived the following telegram;
 Mobile. November 23, 1S99.-Sheriff Frank P. o'Brien. Birmingham, Ala:-Look out for one Roland Reed, wanted here for killing game out of season. Last heard of heading for your city. Description feet inches, clean shaved, neat dresser
 "c. W. SooST, Chief of Police"
 On the arrival of MT. Reed in this city Sheriff O'Brien sought him at his hotel but he was out at the time. Later the sheriff met him in the street and accosting him in the pleasantest manner said:
 "Mr. Reed, have a very unpleasant task to perform. I have a telegram here in structing me to arrest you. It pains me to do this, but it is my sworn duty, as sheriff to take you in custody"
 Mir. Reed was completely dumfounded at this unexpected turn of affairs and de- manded to know with what offense he was charged. The telegram from Mobile was shown him.
 q am not guilty of violating any law" he exclaimed 'I only killed a black cat. The intention was all right, but it was not game I killed.'
 ''I can't help it, MT. Reed. I am bound to do my duty.
 This is strictly. a business matter. But I will go with you to the opera house and probably MT. Douglass will go on your bond, so you can fill your engagement to- night.
 So to the opera house they went, but MT. Douglass was under written contract with his employers not to go on anybody's bond. The situation grew serious. MT. Reed pro tested against the arrest, and grew some what excited when the sheriff informed him he would have to return to Mobile. He said that would be impossible as he had to be in Atlanta tonight and tomorrow to fill engagements. The sheriff finally agreed to let him go on his own recognizance.
 The following telegram was then sent to Chief of Police Soost at Mobile:
 Have Reed under arrest complying with your telegram of 23d. Send for him at once as 1 fear habeas corpus proceedings.
 FRANK P. O'BRIEN, Sheriff.
 Shortly afterwards the following reply was received:
 Mobile, Ala, Nov. 23. "Sheriff r. P. O'Brien, Birmingham.
 Family of deceased putting up big howl but refuse to prosecute. Release him.
 "Soost, Chief of Police"
 On receipt of this telegram MT. Reed was shown the following clipping from a Mobile paper. which states his offense:
 After the performance last night MT. Roland Reed, upon invitation of Charles P. Frederic, of South End, engaged in coon hunt, which proved very disastrous for d poor black cat, that unfortunately ran up among the branches of a tree in the forest near South End. The dog stopped at the tree and MT. Reed, who was following close behind, thinking that the faithful animal had treed a large coon, blazed away at two glaring eyes that he saw up among the branches The object fell and MT. Reed chuckling to himself that he had killed the first coon, proceeded to pick up the animal, when To he was mortified to find that it was a black cat. MT. Frederic tells this joke with much humor and says it is an absolute truth.'
 After reading the clipping MT. Reed ad- mitted that the joke was on him, and in vbted Sheriff OBrien and other friends who had called to extend their sympathy, to take a walk around the corner with him.