The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-26
WOES OF THESPIANS
ANGRY FATHER BROKE UP SYL-
vESTER AND wAYLAND co.
CHARGED WITH ABDUCTION.
MALE MEMBERS OF THE TROUPE
APPREHENDED AT GUYTON.


Night to Go on the Stage. and He
Started in Pursuit-Guyton Had
Been Billed for the Performance
Last Night when He Appeared.
Brought His Daughter Back Home
and Had Allen Reilly and John
CoGhIan Locked in Prison Cell.
The Sylvester and Wayland Comedy
Company came to grief in Guyton yes
terday afternoon. The town had been
billed for the evening performance,
the actors had dined and the male
members of the troupe were strolling
around the city, when an irate father,
the town marshal and a friend of the
former appeared on the scene and spir-
3ted the actresses away and went on
the hunt for the actors, whom as soon
as found they placed under arrest.
Now the young men are locked in a
cell at police barracks and a charge
of abduction is lodged against them
on the blotter, while the young ladies',
their stage career ended before it had
been begun, are under the parental
roof. This is tn third scene in the
play.
The prologue was presented a few
days ago when the following adyer-
tisement appeared in the Morning
News: Wanted, two young ladies for
comedy company; experience unneces-
sary. Call 1926 West Broad street, be-
tween IL and II o'clock.
Story of the Play.
Act first. Scene, the Central pas
senger station and later the Central
train bound for Guyton. Time, We'd
nesday night Dramaus personae,
John Coglan, aged II, manager 81 the
Sylvester and Wayland Comedy COM
pany, veteran actor who had been on
the road before and was starting out
anew; Allen Reilly, aged is, a Savan-
nah tent photographer, who had also
been on the stage before and is Cog
Ians partner; Miss Essie Reilly, age
II, his sister: Miss Matte Clark, age
IL. who had answered the advertise
ment, and had joined the company TO
make her initial appea rance at Guyto1
the next night.
Act Second Scene. police headquar-
tiers, Savannah. Chief Owen Reilly
seated at desk, listening to irate father,
w. A. Clark, chief marshal at Thun-
derbolt. who says that his daughter,
Matte, had not been home the pre-
ceding night and that he thinks she
has been induced to run away with
Allen Reilly his sister, Essie, and one
John Coglan, a vaudeville performer,
who had been seen talking with the
young lady the preceding day. ASKS
chiefs assistance to help him get his
daughter, as she was under the age of
No he hnr ND
been filled with silly stories until she
had been persuaded to run away. He
charges the young men with abduc-
zion and wants them arrested. As
sistance is promised, and the father
goes away to try to get on the track
of the fugitives. Detective John Muir
ply is called in and the case turned
over to him.
Irate Father In Pursuit.
Between acts 2 and 8, half a day
lapses and the scene is transferred TO
Guyton, where the Sylvester and Way
land Comedy Company is stopping at
the hotel. Marshal Clark having got
an answer to his telegram of inquiry
for the runaways, gets a warrant, and
accompanied by Mr.. E. p. Lockwood,
starts in pursuit. Arrived at the hotel
at 4 O'Clock in the afternoon. he finds
his daughter and Miss Reilly and
takes the former in charge. Accom-
panied by Town Marshal Bird of Guy
ton, he goes after the alleged abductors
and finds them hidden in a barn. They
are arrested and to slow curtain the
play ends. The epilogue will be pre-
scented in the Recorders Court this
morning, when the young men are CIV
en- a preliminary hearing.
what the Young Thespians Say.
The young men, when seen in the cell
at the barracks last night denied abb
solutely that they had run off with
anybody. They said they had been out
before giving performances in the small
towns, the company consisting of three
men. This time Reilly and Coglan de-
termined that they would take a cou-
pie of ladies along, and inserted the
TAD in the Morning News as above.
Reilly's sister wanted to go to her faith
er in Macon, and she went along with
the troupe, which was to work its way
to that city. There were three ladkes
who answered the "ad," but only one
other was wanted, because the com
pany had money to pay expenses for
but four. Miss Clark was selected,
and a meeting was arranged at the
tent where Reilly worked as photog-
rapher while in the city. She said she
wanted to go on the stage with the
others, and was accepted and told TO
meet the trio at the Central station
that night.
The men say they thought she had
q right to go if she so desired. and
never dreamed that they were violat-
ing the law by taking her. The four
had stopped at the hotel. and the la
dies were seen no more by the men,
not coming down to dinner yesterday.
The male Thespians billed the town
and then went off to walk around.
When they got back to the hotel the
1andlady was crying out to know what
was the matter. and what they had
done. Both were as much surprised
as She and themselves asked what the
trouble might be. She said that the
girls father had come for the girls,
and was looking for the men. Then
Clark and Marshal Bird came
along, Marshal Clark fiourished a pis-
toll, and the arrest was made.
Both of the prisoners were badly
scared when told they were charged
with abduction, and that IL was a pen
itentiary offense.
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