The San Francisco call., 1910-12-16
NORRIS BLAMED
FOR WRONGFUL
Use OF $4,000
Directors of Western Company
Undertake TO Eliminate
Vaudeville Promoter
caI Theater to Be Completed
and Converted Into a
Music Hall

William Morris. the vaudeville pro-
moter. has been charged by the Will
tam Morris Company, Western. with the
wrongful conversion Of $4,000 and the
reorge nization of the company is now
under way for the purpose of eliminat-
ing him as president and stock holder.
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, Sacra-
mento. san Francisco and Los Angeles,
has been given up. The San Francisco
END Los Angeles theaters are to be
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 construc-
tion. viii be sold.
Morris has become badly involved,
according to representatives of the To-
cal company. and is slowly making res
titution under great pressure.
MONEY PAID UNDER THREAT
At a meeting of the board of direc-
tors in this city last Tuesday a reso-
luton was adopted to the effect that
unless Morris wired $4,000 by wednes-
day. attorneys for the western com
pany would be instructed to attach
Morris American music hall in Chi
cago. Morris was advised by telegram
that the directors would no longer per-
nit him to put off from time TO time
the repayment of claim which was a
trust obligation.
The resolution had the desired effect
The $4,000 was forthcoming and the
attachment proceedings in Chicago
were not necessary. II is said that
Morris still owes the western company
about $4,000 and that the company
expects to recover every cent.
SUIT FOR MONEY IN EAST
Information of a sensational nature
regarding an action which was brought
with much secrecy in New York last
summer by the western company
against William Morris, Inc. has just
leaked out and barred the differences
which have sprung up between the
vaudeville magnate and his western
associates.
At that time Walter Hoff Seely, the
manager OF the western company, was
in New York for the purpose Of col
lecting $4,000 which, it was charged,
Norris had wrongfully converted. The
money was paid to him by the western
company TO make the first payment on
the purchase Of a half interest in the
Barrasford vaudeville circuit of Eng
land. but the money was used by the
eastern company, according to Seely,
TO tide over its losses. The deal was
TO be for s175,OOo.
COMPANY ADVANCES CASH
When Morris came 10 San Francisco
last January with Harry Lauder he
prevailed upon the western company to
advance the $40. 900 toward purchasing
the interest in the English circuit.
Morris is president Of the local COM
pany and holds half the stock. The
other directors are Robert Fitch, Jesse
Newbauer. Jesse S. Andrews and A. L.
Well, the latter being Morris local at
torney. Gustave Brenner is also active
in the local company by reason Of be.
ing heavily interested
Bremen was inclined 10 defend Nor
ris yesterday when questioned about
the action that was instituted against
Norris in New York last summer and
later dismissed.
Morris is an honest man." said
Bremen.
~And so was Captain Kidd" COM
mented Seely.
The $4,000 payment was 70 be con-
ditional on Norris securing the Eng
lish connection and Attorney Leven-
tritt. attorney for Morris, was 70 go TO
England TO make the Investigation
CHARGE OF wRONGDoING
'Leventritt made the trip to England
al right said Seely. but the money
was not invested in England. II was