The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-01-16
ACTORS IN PLIGHT
Pudd'nhead Wilson Company
Up Against Hard Luck,
Comedy and Tragedy Have Run,
But There's Little Money in 1t
For Thespian Artists.

Comedy mixed with tinge of the tragic
appears to have been the role of the
'Pudd nhead Wilson Company during
the past few days. Yesterday afternoon
M. w. Kelley, the late manager of the
combination. was attacked by mad lot Of
ctors and actresses. who arrived in this
city from New Ulm. and they did not care
who knew it.
Kelley was about o board the sans
train for Chicago that thescompany came
in on and when the Thespian artists spied
him they made grand rush for him. His
hat was knocked in and had it not been for
the stage carpenter Kelley would have
been badly nsed.
Mr.. Kelley was on board Chicago Sc
North Western train. ticketed to Chicago
and his baggage checked for the same point
He had given it out to people in Mankato
that he was going to Pittsburg and to
another party he confided the information
that his destination was Rochester. KEEL
ley, so William Gill, who has third in
terest in the company, explained. departed
from New Ulm yesterday morning, saying
to the ladies of the company that he was
coming to Mankato to secure release of
the sI3o.75 attached by Advance Agent
Smiley, but on reaching here he wired to
individual members of the combination
that the company's season was closed ow-
Jug to poor business and that il was too
late in the season to reorganize. This
blow almost killed the "Sheriff of Daw-
SON" and the three wise ''gazooks" imme-
diately got busy with their grey matter.
The william Kissed few lines which should
have made Mr.. Kelley's ears burn and the
little lady who loves Chambers was in
state bordering on collapse. "Pudd'n-
head" grew philosophical and as he had
money in his clothes he cared not for the
future. The twins from Paree talked
French and Judge Driscoll and his friend
adjourned for another the like of which
only Roxy can make. There we're visions
of an unlimited number of ties between
New Ulm and the Rialto in New York and
there was much figuring as to how many
handouts could be secured en- route.
When the performance was about to
begin at New Ulm Sunday night William
Gill announced to Manager Kelley that he
would not act another act unless the
money that was due was turned over.
Mr.. Kelley is reported to have raised his
hand and swore that If Mr. Gill would
60 on the boards once more, the
cash would be forthcoming. But Gill,
he of the wise head. had witnessed the
uplifted hand too often and he stuck to
his declaration that it was case of mo
money, no act" Mr.. Kelley produced
$50 due Mr.. Gill on this years salary and
a big bunch left over from the stipend
of 1902. The play proceeded. Mr.. Gil
paid railroad fares for the members of the
company to Mankato and assisted the
combination to reach Mortified where an
engagement will be played tonight. Mr..
Gill is looked upon as the manager now.
Mr.. Gill stated to The Free Press that
Mr.. Kelley gave to members Of the
company his II. O. o." for salaries due
them for one and two weeks as the case
might be.
\ Mr.. Smiiey's claim against the manage
ment is $Ise and be succeeded in attaching
E$I3o.75, box Office receipts. Saturday
night. Mr.. Smiley is willing to turn the
money over to Mr.. Gill to help out the
company providing he can secure possess
sion of It.
The company has an engagement at
Rochester on Friday night with no dates
to .6n between. AS the play "Pudd'nhead
" iison" is copyrighted anda large royalty
must be paid for its production MIR. Gill
feels that under the circumstances the
company cannot continue to play it.
Members Of the company were about
town today relating a tale Of woe that
would do credit to brokenhearted
heroine in a society drama.
Kelley, it is understood, gave it out
here. that the actors and actoreens at
tempted to tell him how TO run his show.
The attorney for Mr.. Smiley is of the
opinion that the amount of money garni-
sheed in the box Office Saturday night was
about 1897. but the attorsey for Manager
Kelley states that the amount was only a
small fraction of that sum. Only the
amount actually in the cash drawer was
covered by the proceeding.
The company will go it alone, having
been turned loose by Shipman brothers.
but if any rights to the play are transgress.
ed it may be that trouble will follow. Mr..
Kelley before departing for New York.
said that one of the Shipman brothers
would probably come to Mankato to at
tend the hearing in punishment suit,
Manager Kelly had over 81 900 in cash
when he left Mankato yesterday. He ex-
hibited telegram from Shipman Bros.
directing that the company be turned
loose. He said that if the trouble with the
advance agent had not occurred. he would
have taken the company to fill its book
ngs and then back to New York, to be
disbanded.
The stage carpenter who befriended
Kelly at the depot yesterday has been
transferred to the Prisoner of Zenda''
company. also owned by Shipman Bros.
and which will soon exhibit in Mankato