The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-09-19
NUMBER 76.

brigand began the old song. The audi
finished the first verse filed the house
with genuine applause.
By the time the song was finished
the collectors had completed their
work, and only the guards on the doors
remained. The leader again raised his
hand for silence.
Ladies and gentlemen" he said, 81
thank you for your kind attention. Our
little comedy has passed of successful
ly. and now before we wind up let me
give you a few final instructions. Our
guards are still outside the various
doors and shall remain there until we
have had good start. That will be,
let us say, fifteen minutes. Any one
who attempts to leave before that time
will be shot dead at the door. and you
know 1 have a habit of keeping my
word. To simplify matters I intend to
place this alarm clock''-here he held
up an alarm clock which was handed
to him from the wings to the view Of
the audience-"here on this table. II
In set to go OF at IL O'Clock. Don't
leave your seats until you hear IT. II
you do
Before the sentence was finished
Gentleman George had vanished
The people in the house looked at one
another wonderingly. No one dared to
be the first to tempt fate by getting up
and leaving the theater. Yet each man
there believed that the threat was Z
''bluff." intended to give the robbers q
chance to get safely away. They were
disinclined, however, to put their belief
| to the test, and no one stirred. While
matters were still In this indetermi-
nate state a piercing cry Of Fire"
rang out throughout the house and
| was Immediately taken up on several
| sides.
The managers of the theater at this
| outcry rushed on the stage and shouted
words meant to be calming to the audi
ence. They succeeded in a measure In
I allayipg the panic which was begin
ming to get under way. but many peo-
| pie, overwrought by the evenings hap
| penings, rushed from the theater out
into the street. Then 1t was discovered
| conclusively that there was no fire, but
1
added to the start already gained BY
Gentleman George and his band
By noon ON the day following the
sheriff was ready to start for the
haunts Of Gentleman George with q
strong posse. when the mayor sent for
him and read this letter, found on his
doorstep that morning:
has been perpetrated on my good name
and incidentally on the people Of your
| city by the ruffians who held up the
| Opera House last night The person CALI
ing himself Gentleman George was only
an impersonator. / believe I know the
| scoundrel, and by the time you receive
| this myself and few trusty comrades
| will be on his trail The good citizens Of
| OaKtree cannot be more grieved than !
am over the regrettable occurrence OF
last evening. To show you that was not
/ the man who held up the Opera House
inclose you my latest photograph. made
| In San Francisco. You can depend upon
It that the evildoers of last night will b
brought to Justice Yours in good faith.
Il GENTLEMAN GEORGE
The sheriff did not like the cool, Inn.
pertinent tone of the letter and thought
that, owing to his long immunity, Gen.
tleman George was inclined to jest
with the township. The mayor thought
differently. 1t was. he said, a very
courteous note, and he could not SCI
that it in any way reflected on the
town. Sides were taken. and the next
election was fought out largely on the
question Of the good faith or other
wise Of Gentleman George. Though
the election went in favor Of the may
or and the upholders of Gentleman
George. to this day it has not been de
termined whether or not it was thai
polished bandit who had held up thu
Opera House.