New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-06
'SUBPGNAS TICKET
MAN IN doe PROBE
Head of Tyson Company Is
to Appear To-day Be
fore Grand Jury.
MANAGER OFFERS
TO AID WHITMAN
Asserts That Public Is Robbed
Of 100000 Yearly in Pre-
NUNS on Theatre Seats.

The District Attorney will institute
John Doe inquiry into the theatre ticket
war to-day with the hope Of getting
facts upon which ne can base an ordi-
nance assuring peace and tickets at face
value prices \ grand jury subpoena was
issued Yesterday calling for the appear
ance to-day Of W. !. Fallon, president OF
the Tyson company.
Mr.. FalIon had agreed 10 60 to the Dis
tr,ct Attorneys office on Monday. Arthur
G Train. Assistant District Attorney In
charge Of the inquiry. changed the date
YESTERDAY. but refused TO say whether 1t
was made because Of charges and coun-
tercharges which have been flying back
and forth between theatre managers and
ticket agents.
The fact remains that Mr. Train re-
ceived Yesterday a letter from A. l..
Erlanger. one OF the managers Mr. Fal-
lon accus d Of forcing his agency TO buy
tickets weeks in advance, saying that
representative Of Klaw & Granger would
be at the District Attorneys office on
Monday.
Mr.. Granger assured Mr.. Train Of his
hearty cooperation in the effort to have
tickets sold for the price stamped upon
them. He said that he thought the public
was robbed" yearly of $4,000 to 100000
in premiums on theatre tickets. HIS let
ter. which was addressed to District At
torney Whitman, in part follows:
81 will. during the day, get some mem
her of our staff who is conversant with
the situation TO make an appointment
with Mr.. Train and confer with him on
the subject. About three years ago the
Board of Aldermen passed an ordinance
against sidewalk ticket speculation, but
the police never strictly enforced II.
81 do hope you will devise some means
OF stopping ticket speculation or every
description. ! want you to know that l
am heartily with you In such a move
ment. This ticket speculation, whether
IN hotels or on the sidewalk. certainly
works against the middle class and poorer
class Of this city. who look TO the theatre
for their amusement A stranger can
purchase good seats from a hotei OF
sneculator. while the citizen must walk
his turn TO get seats he wants
II figure that the public is robbed year
" Of $4,000 to $4,000 in the purchase or
theatre tickets.
Alderman William +. Quinn, Assistant
Cornoration Counsel Hahlo and Alderman
Henry IL Curran conferred yesterday
with Mfr. Train on the proposed ordinance
Several drafts have been received by MI
Train. but neither he nor Mr.. Hahio
would give an opinion on any OF them.
They intend TO take the best ideas onereu
and embody them in an ordinance.
Early next week Mr.. Train expects 10
present to the grand Jury the charge OIL
grand larceny brought against Tyson q
Co. because OF the hypothecation Oh srahu
opera tickets last fall.
Lee Schubert yesterday voiced ms dp
nroval Of the bill introduced by AssempI!
man Schaap. II makes it misdemeano'
FOR any man operating a place or ahiuse
ment IN sell tickets Of admission AZ rae
bioher than the amount printed on the
faca of the ticket. regardless OF where the
ticlxet NAV be sold. Mr. Shu0ert salu al
II want TO indOrse Mr.. Schaap on
most heartily II il is true that the aseii
nies must be maintained for the convent
ence and benefit OF the theatreSolhg pun,
lie thpv certainly should not be aIlow Gu
10 sell tickets at advanced prices. shali
he only 100 glad to cooperate IN t He en-
actment of any legislation which VIII Pun
an end to the present practice.