The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-13
TRUST IN TERROR OF BELASCO.
MS VIOLENCE MtDE THEM HIDE
1ROOKS DEAL. SAYS ERLANGER.
s,nd,cate Man Denies threat 10 Crush
-SLips In Route for an independent
PIay-"AuCtiOneer" Route AnAlJ1ed
No syndicate Charges for Booking.

Abraham Lincoln Erlanger, the Great
Mogul OF the theatrical syndicate as David
Belasco saws he calls himself, turned nu-
msro,is verbal somersau lts yesterday under
the guidance Of Samuel Untermyer, while
tastifying in tho litigation between Belasco
and Joseph Brooks over the prohts OF the
play THE Auctioneer.' He displayed
s,oh remarkable acrobatic abilities that
Mr. I-ntemyer questioned him on the
subject OF his memory and got the witness
TO blurt out eIcitedly
sMy best recollection Il that ! don't re-
member -.
Arrayed in a polka dot mAuVe vest
Granger took the stand at the opening OF
the days session and stayed there All Gay
Toward afternoon the vest was much
vrinkled. Justice Fitzgerald. before whom
the actions are being tried. remarked TO
Erlancer's counsel, Col. Abe Gruber, mat
the vi.agss's own admissions and insist
ence On making uncalled for explanations
we're alone responsible for the privileges
claimed by Mr.. Untermyer Of examining
him on subjects foreign to the issues IN
dispute.
Mr.. Untennyer has long standing habit
OF wearing a pink In his buttonhole' n
lanRer appeared yesterday morning win
a scarlet carnation. He had done the
same the day before, and Mr.. UntermyeT'
observing it, had quietly removed ms own
flower. Granger seemed rather put out
to find yesterday that Mr.. Cntermyer
sported, a Ia Joe Chamberlain, an orchid.
Throughout the day, Justice Fitzgerald
found it hard to control the audience that
- a. NNNN
Half suppressed outlaws were repeatedly
evoked by Col Gruber, who sitting at Mr.
Untermyers side jumped up every minute
or so TO address the Court. MI inter
myer remarked that Mr.. Gruber seemed
to be anxious TO procure breathing sPellS
for Granger, and showed signs OF irritation.
Finally he turned TO Gruber and exclaimed
half smiling, half serious
Your interruptions annoy and discon-
cert me, Abe. You are like mosquito
at my side, or-or flea.
Erlanger started out by denying categori-
cauy that he had ever threatened to crush
Belasco and drive him out Of the theatrical
business unless he we're given a half share
in the profits Of The Auctioneer.'
changers version Of the interview with
Belasco was that he declined TO become
Belasco's partner, OF to have any interest
in The Auctioneer,' on the Iound that
to do so would be taking pronts 70 the
detriment OF his syndicate partner Inc
firm, he said, only consented 20 undertake
the booking Of the play when brooks ap-
peared as Belascos partner.
Granger said that Belasco had come TO
him complaining that Charles trohman
was trying 20 crush MN ana Oegglhg
Granger 20 help him out. Erlanger de-
clned, and atterward when the booking
arrangement was made, be testified,
Belasco thanked him deeply for his kind
ness IN giving the play route.
MIR. lntennyer IN cross-e1amlnAtlon
asked Erlanger how he would propose TO
book an independent company 80 as 70
procure for IL an extensive route.
Erlanger took as an example james h.
HacKett in -Ihe Crisis.
i would book that, he began, by hrst
getting a fourteen weeks' engagement
IN The Academy of Music here. Then !
would put hun in Boston for say four weeks
in one Of the three independent houses.
Next in the Academy at Philadelphia.
Prom there, we could go TO, we'll the Lee
Avenue IN Brooklyn, then 70 the Garrick
or the Auditorium in Chicago, and after
that 70 New Orleans. There Is an independ-
ent theatre there.
myeI- r.
CISCO tHeIo al iNNe N''
And 40 you'd have to jump around the
country in just about that way 20 hnd
houses which are. not controlled by the
syndlcatey'
the thing. | might find some better plan
than that, responded Erlanger grandly.
Just take this list Of the hundred or
more theatres at which The Aucuoneer'
played under your oooklhg SAD VT,
tntermyer, -and tell me II there are any
independent theatres among them,
aWhy." said Erlanger, there's lots Of
them there. ] couldn't waste time going
Just pick out the ones you know best
Erlanger put on his glasses and began
10 finger the list.
-lhere's-let me see-there's-oh! any
number Of them
Well just name one.
'Why-the Hollis Street Theatre inBoston'
That's one,
Nobody in the syndicate got any profits
from that?'
No; nobody, said Granger, very posi-
Who owns that house, asked Mr. Tn
.Why-Rch, Harris a Frohman.
Charles Frohman''
Yes"
Isn't he a member OF the syndioate''
Yes but
Never mind the buts' laughed Mr.:
Trntermyer. Better find another one OF
those independent houses
Granger turned 10 the paper again as
the crowd in the court room laughed.
Here's another one, he said, the Illinois
Theatre in Chicago.
Who owns that said the lawyer.
'Cm-Hayman a Davis was the an
swer.
Al Hayman, also Of the syndioate''
The same
And 80 you would have us believe, Mr..
Granger. that these theatres in which
the syndicate partners had interests were
independent. and the syndicate got no re-
bate from them on booNings''
There were no profits 70 the syndicate
itself. said Granger.
Mr.. Untermyer then began a long com
parison between statements made BY
Fri niger on the witness stand and In NJ
davits He pointed out what he consid-
cred several discrepancies, and IN every
case Erlguyer explained that he was mis-
AIKEN when he swore to the afndaVlts
and had discovered his error since.
i admit / swore TO II. but | won't admit
it's true became a favorite expression
with Granger during this period OF his
examination.
Erlanger admitted that his firm bad ~.
ceiVed from Brooks two-thirds OF his han
Of THE Auctioneers profits.
Weren't you prohting thereby az the
expense Of your syndicate partnersF Mr..
UnteTmyer asked.