The San Francisco call., 1904-06-11

hearny and Washington streets, mod
estly disclaimed desire 10 pose as a
critic of stage offerings. nor did he
wish to appear in the light of one
afflicted with theaterphoDia- At the
same tine, however, he believed ex-
perience had qualified him TO discrim-
mate between the worthy and the un-
worthy in the matter of public amuse-
mSnts, and he certainly did look upon
the Star Music Hall as an inferior es-
tablishment Of its class.
The Star Music Hall occupies the
basement Of the building IN which Mr..
Tripp dispenses wet goods on the first
floor. and it was for destroying a sign
board and some electric light fixtures,
the property of the theater. that Mr..
Trip was a defendant In the court
Of Judge Mogan.
Without questioning your insinua-
ton that the stage OF the Star could
be improved by moral elevation" said
the court to Mr. Tripp, Il must re-.
mind you that We are not here to dis
cuss the quality of the show, but to
ascertain whether you are guilty or
not guilty of malicious mischief Now
go ahead with your explanation"
Mr.. Trip did not deny that he
smashed the signboard, also the cleo
trio lights. No, it was not solely because
the entertainment produced in the Gel
lar displeased him that he committed
the misdemeanor. Yes, he would ac-
knowledge that his inspiration was
mercenary. The fact was that the
Stars signboards and electric lights at
tracted people to the cellar who might
have dropped into his place of business
if no such allurement existed But he
would like TO have it understood that
he had entered oral protest against the
placards and the illumination before
he demolished them. His objections
were ignored by the management Of
the cellar. one Harry Monroe, so there
was nothing left for him to do other
than what he did.
After the Judge had reminded Mr..
Trip that formaf complaint of. nui-
sance might have resulted in compul-
sorry removal of the obnoxious adver-
tisements he pronounced Mr.. Tripp
guilty as charged and ordered him to
appear for sentence next Monday.
The smashed signboard was not pre-
sented as an exhibit in the case, but
persons who had seen it were ready
to testify that there was nothing in the
information il impaired that Swould Of
fend the mcst fastidious taste. True,
its legends savored of hyperbole. but
in theater advertising that quality is
inevitable and popularity accepted as
legitimate. 1t heralded the appearance
of several performers VINO were de-
scribed as world famous" and i'm
mense favorites," although their names
were comparatively unknown in the
atrical lore. In all other respects that
signboard was as artistic as they
make EN-.
Cant you make 1t Tuesday instead
Of Monday" inquired Nathan Cohn,
known on the water front as Donna
doma," when Judge Mogan had or
dered him to appear on the latter day
for sentence.
Why do you object to Monday?" his
Honor asked.
Because Monday is the 18th, and
I'm superstitious, replied Mr.. Cohn.
But I'm not the least bit supersti-
tious," said the Judge. "and you'll get
no larger a dose on Monday than I
would give you on Tuesday"
Mr.. Cohn battered a peanut
peddler.
s. p. wentzel, whose theater of lar
cenous operations was the Hotel
Richelieu, pleaded guilty to two
charges Of petty larceny and was SEN
fenced TO sixty days by Judge Ca
baniss. There are five accusations of
burglary against Mr.. Wentzel and
they will be taken up from time to
time when the court is not pressed by
other business.
Some audacious thief stole Clerk
Barney Conlan's hat from his desk
while the WentzeI case was engaging
his attention and for several hours
he was unable to get another chapeau.
There were plenty of spare hats in the
Hall of Justice, but in some mysteri-
Gus way they disappeared as soon as
Mr.. Conlan's loss became known, and
as neither love nor money could in
duce any one TO go out and buy him
a new head covering, he missed his
luncheon and might have gone din
nerless also II Judge Cabaniss had not
suddenly remembered the whereabouts
of a hat which he shelved in the
spring of 1901.
Mr.. Conlan desired to have 1t an
nounced that if the person who took
the hat would report to him there will
be no effort on his part to recover it.
Alvin Anderson took a friend to
dine with him in an Eddy-street
said that when he said he was willing
to admit the affidavit without protest
L.. Id -,,rr,n-nd u uras Mr. Eau,s hut