New-York tribune., 1913-11-20
Use of Opera Tickets to
Secure Loan Leads to
Arraignment.
AGENCY CONNECTED
WITH METROPOLITAN
Letters in Evidence Purport to
Show Affiliation-Case
Goes On To-day.

pichard ]. Hartman, president or Tyson
T. Co. whose hypothecation of $4,000
uortb Of Metropolitan opera season seats
isonardized the rights of subscribers TO
,bosa seats. was summoned before Magis-
,-a+e Deuel. yesterday afternoon to an
srsr for that corporation, the charge Of
Grand larceny.
At the same time Assistant District At
tornev Arthur c. Train introduced evil
5snce 10 show that in his yearly offerings
NJ large blocks of tickets to subscribers
hartman and Tyson & Co. were in reality
acting as agents Of the Metropolitan
opera Company
Deyelopments in the criminal proceed
irrs which have grown out of the miX-up
between the ticket speculator, the opera
corpanv and the Metropolitan Trust
Companv. which accepted the tickets as
Collateral on a loan of 100000, came
rapidly. Almost until the time for the
hearing 1t had been the intention TO hoid
n John Doe inquiry into the tangle, but
II was decided 10 make definite charges
against the corporation Of Tyson co.
Specifically. Tyson & CO. are charged
with "rnlawfully, wilfully and felonious-
w. misappropriating the sum OF Sl5l ~
and two season tickets for seats at the
METROPOLITAN opera Huose for the cur
,ant season. Tn, summons was issued on
the complaint of A. f. Dick. of No. 2ii
West 10Th street. that he had paid for two
dress circle seats, and that subsequently
these tickets had been hypothecated with
the Metropolitan Trust Company.
Opera and Agency Allied.
The ouasi-oficial connection between
Tyson & CO. and the opera company was
set forth in a series of circulars TO sub
scribers which Mr.. Train succeeded IN
introducing. Frank D. Pavey, formerly a
State Senator and now a lawyer at NO.
% Nassau street. had told Of his failure 10
get either money or tickets after paying
Tyson & Co. $276
First Of the open letters was one with
the heading. metropolitan Opera Com
pany. Metropolitan opera House. New
York City. March 81. 1910" This circular
reviewed the previous relations existing
between the agency and the box office,
and gave its reasons for making an ad-
vance in the price OF seats. 1t stated:
I'VE have reached the conclusion that the
circumstances will be fairly and equitably
met by realloting to the ticket agencies
for the next season the seats they have
heretofore held
Another exhibit added support TO the
charge that the agency acted for the
opera company. The letter head bore the
words, Metropolitan opera Company.
Metropolitan opera House. Giulio Gatti-
Casazza. General Manager In a corner
was the name John Brown, BUSINESS
Comptroller"
The letter dated in April. 1872, offered
TO former subscribers the privilege of re-
newing their subscriptions for the then
coming season of 1928. At the bottom
was the instruction: Address all COM
munications to Tyson & Company, ll22
Broadway"
Hartman told me-" said Mr.. Pavey'
that he paid $4,000 of his Sl53.coO sub
scription before he went 10 the trust COM
pany The day before the loan he opened
a special account Of $1,000 and received
credit Of 10000 on the loan. Then he
took the tickets from the opera house, in
company with Earl Lewis, head Of the
box Office, and turned them over to the
trust company. The intention Of the spe-
cial account, in which there had been a
total OF $4,000, was to safeguard the
loan, but the trust company allowed him
to withdraw a large amount TO buy other
tickets Hartman, he said, understood
another loan upon the security Of these
other tickets was to have been forthcom-
ing.
Why He Took Tickets TO Bank.
Earl Lewiss explanation Of his delivery
Of the tickets and his purpose in going TO
the trust company to have the 100000
check certified was that his connection
with the transaction ended at the door Of
the Metropolitan Opera House
But didn't you say something to Hart
man when you went with him TO the trust
company about the loan?" asked Mr..
Train.
Il asked him in joking way If the
tickets were 10 be collateral for loan,
Lewis replied He insisted that the opera
company did not know the tickets were TO
be pledged.
Didn't you give Hartman a receipt for
his money after the tickets had been
turned over TO the trust company, In the
trust companys Officer"
Yes, but l had the blank in my pocket
In case Of an emergency"
Beverly Chew. second vice-president OF
the trust company, said that he had pre-
sented Hartman's written application for
the loan TO the executive committee Of the
board Of directors Of the company.
Was T. DE Witt Cuyler present."
Yes"
Isn't he also a director Of the opera
Company
Il believe he is said Mr. Chew.
rs il the custom Of the Metropolitan
Trust Company TO lend money with opera
tickets as security?"
No. II was our first offence. Hart
man told US none of the tickets had been
paid for" he added.
The hearing before the magistrate will
oe resumed this morning.
French Warships to Visit U. S.
Paris, Nov l9.--The French govern