The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-09
.TILLIS NOW
 IN CONTROL Street Railway Magnate
 Buys Park Property. REMOVES SLOT MACHINES Amusement Company Passes
 to the Railway Company. New Owner of Electric Park An | nounces That the Morals of the Resort Win Be Im-
REMOVES SLOT MACHINES

Richard Tillis. owner of the Mont gomery Street Railway has purchased a controlling interest in the Montgom- cry Amusement Company. operators oi Electric Park.
 T have bought the Electric Park property. It will be operated on strictly moral principles and will be a credit to the city of Montgomery" This much information MT. Tillis. reputed to be one of the wealthiest men in Ala bama, volunteered when seen In ret- erence to his purchase last night.
 Electric Park, the beautiful place of amusement built a year ago on the site of old Bloemfontaine Park ana which has been in litigation since US opening, changed ownership yesterday morning. The Montgomery Amusemen, Company Is a thing of the past II ceased to exist when MT. Tillis gave his check to N. J. Grefl. the Secretary Treasurer of the company. yesterday morning. Electric Park is now owned and controlled by the Montgomery Street Railway. Richard Tiliis owns and controls this company.
 The Montgomery Amusement Com pany was organized last summer Dy Atlanta amusement promoters Who built Electric Park with the assist ance of the Montgomery Street Rali' way The principal stockholder Tn the company was Naham J. Gretl. It's Sec retary and Treasurer, the well known young wholesale grocer of Montgom- cry. Electric Park opened late last summer and enjoyed unparalleled pop ularity. This spring 1t reopened "ith many new attractions For many weeks it drew great crowds of Mont gomerians every night.
 It is alleged, however. that Electric Park, incurred the enmity of the church people of Montgomery. These people objected to the skating rink being op- erated on Sunday and the operation of slot machines, by which some lucky people were rewarded with anywhere from 10 cents to s for nickel de- posted in the slot.
 The patronage of Electric Park fell off The last grand jury of Montgom cry County indicted the Montgomery Amusement Company for operating g lottery. Since then the patronage has been lighter than 1t was before.
 The Montgomery Traction Company the rival corporation of the railway owned and controlled by Mir. Tiliis made a bid for the business to and from Electric Park. A line was con structed and a right of way purchased by the Traction Company into tht heart of Electric Park. Application for injunction in the State courts te keep the Traction Company out of tht park failed. The Traction Company was finally enjoined from entering tho park by the United States Court. An admission fee to the park was charged at the Traction Company gate. The Street Railway people admitted theii DatrOns free to the park.
 These wars and rumors of wars had its effect on the patronage and Il steadily dwindled.
 Yesterday morning Mir. Tillis pur- chased the majority if not all of the stock of the Montgomery Amusement Co. When seen last night, he said: T have purchased Electric Park. That Is a majority of the stock of the Mont gomery Amusement Company.
 Are the former owners of the Mont Romery Amusement Company still iu- terested in Electric Park?" he was asked.
 'In only a small degree" was the re. ply.
 Are any radical changes contem- plated in the management of the park?" he was asked.
 No radical changes. The park will still be operated as an amusement place for the people of Montgomery. intend to make 1t the pride of the peo- pie of Montgomery. It will be one oi the finest amusement places in the South. Still. there will be no more slot machines. I had them taken out this morning. in fact as soon as I took charge. ...
 T wish you would state positively that only scft drinks will be served al the refreshment stand. There will be no malt extract nor will there be soda cocktails Otherwise the present