Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-15
MURDER AND MYSTERY
A CRIMINAL HISTORY
John Mason in Tense Melodrama That
Makes One Content With Being
Humble and Honest and Free of a
Past

Past.
Put Apache in evening clothes and he will
still remain an Apache. The same thing APP
plies to Patagonians, white Eskimos and Mex
lean bandits. Clothes do not make the man.
nor Bellevue-stratford settings alter inherent
table manners
Elegantly staged, luxuriousIy upholstered pre-
sented by excellent cast, owen Davis play.
"Drugged," which opened at the Broad Street
Theatre last night, with John Mason in the
title role nevertheless remains unadulterated
nelodrama Of the old-fashioned established
type bit more polished, more technically and
tersey constructed, but thrilling, horrifyins
and hair-raisinR Of old
Young John Dexter. acted by Frank Thomas,
is clicking off a telegraphic message in code to
beautiful Sylvia Cragen-Nan Campbell-as the
curtain rises upon the magnificent Interior OF
the home of the great John Dexter railroad
ma gnate, candidate for Congress. respected citi-
zen. Young Dexter the telegraphic device
to tell Sylvia he loves her and. desires,
they fall into each others arms. An auspicious
opening. Enter John Dexter cOnsummateIy por-
trayed by John Mason. who approves Of the
match. although with obvious restraint. Next
enter Mrs. Dexter. tall, grim, with touches Of
tragic green in her costume who stalks across
Dexter $ face is ashen, r eyes wild and heavily
rtnged. She trembles violently. When she hears
of the betrothal she insists upon speaking 1, the
girl alone-she was the girls mothers dearest
friend she loves her BY these cryptic
statements we know there's skeleton dangling
somewhere about in that tapestried. welI-but-
Tered establishment. Amelia Gardner the
morphne-obsessed wife. terrified by her hus-
bands hidden past, creates tn" necessary
psychic atmosphere of tragedy and looming
disaster. Despite her warnings. the girl de-
cides she will continue to love and to marry
Jack whatever tides, whereupon like that
girl.
Then follow, thick and fast, complications
after the established melOdrama recipe. Eleven
thousand dollars of railroad money are stolen
from the safe in the Dexter home. Evidence
points to young Dexter the thief. and so the
railroad detective Tom Lane appears, demand
ing warrant for young DeXter's arrest. Young
Dexter is eventually arrested and Sylvia weeps
real tears. Appear the villain, Doctor Malone,
sinking sinister, with face Ike putty, and fur
tive eyes. This Doctor Malone has been feed
ing Mrs Dexter upon morphine; he has also
been placing servants in the Dexter household.
He pursues John Dexter for some mysterious
,eason; We know, and everybody knows. that
le knows more than he tells he knows. John
Flood, Doctor Malone, IS consummatey sue .
,essful in winning every ones suspicion and /
Contempt Pretty soon We learn he has stolen |
he $1,000 while Mrs Dexter was unconscious !
rom drugs. \ maid, Laura. placed i'm the /
household boy Malone as a spy. is accused OK /
onniving IN tine theft. ana ro save herself de
.oVuces the great John Dexter for what he is
an escaped convict, charged with murder the
Iotorious Jim McGarr!ty. Sh" tells all she