Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-18
VAUDEVILLE CIRCUIT GIVEN UP
Plans for Big Western Line of Morris
Houses Fall Through.
COAST COMPANY AFTER MONEY
Allegation william Morris owes
$4,000 On Deal for Cash ID
verted-To BE FrOEeB
Out in West.

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal. Dec. 17-Cspecisl
Telegram )-william MorriI vaudevill"
promoter has been charged h the william
Morris Company Western With wrongful
conversion of $4,000 and thu organization
of a company is now under he way for
the purpose OF eliminating nm as presi-
dent and stakeholder.
There is to be a complete change in the
original plans of the company. The idea
Of a gigantic vaudeville circuit throughout
the west embracing houses in Omaha, Salt
Lake, Denver, Sacramento San Francisco
and Los Angeles has been given up. The
San Francisco and Los Angeles theaters
are to be completed and converted into
music halls similar to the old Tivoli, but
the Omaha house has been closed after
a short season. and the other houses,
which are now in course OF construction,
will be sold.
At meeting of the broad Of directors
in this city last Tuesday resolution was
adopted that unless Morris wired 5000
by Wednesday, attorneys for the Western
company would be instructed to attach
Morris American music han in Chicago.
The resolution had the desired effect The
5000 was forthcoming and the attach
ment proceedings in Chicago were not
necessary.
! Assert Money Diverted.
1t is said that Norris stll owed the
Western company about $4,000 and that tina
company expects 10 recover every cent
| The $4,000 had been paid to by him by
/ the Western company 20 make the first
! payment on the purchase Of a half in
/ terest in the Barrasford vaudeville circuit
! Of England. but the money was used by
! the Eastern company, according TO Seely,
to tide over it's losses. The deal was to
be for $4,000.
! When Morris came TO San Francisco last
! January with Harry Lauder, he persuaded
( the Western company TO advance the $40
/ 600 toward purchasing the interest in the
English circuit. Morris is president Of the
| local company and holds half the stock.
Attorney Leventrill, acting for Norris
was TO go to England to make the investi-
| cation.
/ "Leentrill made the trip TO England
all right" said Seely, but the money was
not invested in England 1t was used by
the English corporation for its own bene-
! fit When we made the demand for its
return. Morris was unable 10 pay Il. l
Instituted suit against him in New York
last summer charging him with wrongful
confiscation of $4,000.
. "On certain representations OF Norris to
the directors OF our company, the suit was
withdrawn, and several small payments on
account have been made but the western
corporation then decided to sever its Oon-
nectiona with william Morris"
Norris Says It's False.
! CHICAGO, Dec. I7.-(special Telegram.)-
Mr. Morris was told OF the accusations
made against him In San Francisco. He
/ said IN reply: 1T Is all an absolute lie.
made out OF whole cloth. Not word Of
! truth in the whole story. 1t crops up every
little while in various places, and now it's
| Chicago's turn to hear it
william Morris, Eastern, and william
Norris. Western, are two separate con-
Germs, and have nothing TO do with each
other" said Colonel William A. Thompson.
manager OF the Chicago house. Il don't
know about the affairs OF the western
/ company, as the Chicago house is in the
eastern company l know that we sent
some money west TO make up the de-
| ficiencies Of the Omaha house, which was
losing money. until Mr.. Norris told me to
stop. don't think Mr.. Morris had any
4 capital invested in the western company,
but think he made a contract with the
men who put in the money to use his name,
for which he was 20 get some stock, and
10 use his bookings.
The Omaha house was closed up about
three weeks ago, because It was losing
money. and Mr.. Morris would not send out
! any more attractions there. II he had a
financial interest in the theater, 1t would
hava hem "a his fnfereaf 10 have kenf the