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 an Apache in evening clothes and he Will
still remain 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 luxurously upholstered, pre-
sented by an excellent cast, owen Davis play,
"Drugged," which opened at the Broad Street
Theatre last night with John Mason in the
title role nevertheless remains unaduterated
melodrama Of the old-fashoned established
type. bit more polished, more technically and
tersely constructed, but thrilling. horrifyirg
and hair-raisng of old.
Young John Dexter, acted by Frank Thomas,
s clicking off telcgraphc message in code to
beautiful Sylvia Cragen-Nan Campbel-as the
curtain rises upon the magnificent interior Of
the home of the great John Dexter, railroad
magnate, candidate for Congress, respected citi-
zen. Young Dexter uses the telegraphc device
to tell Sylvia he loves her. and, as desires
they fall into each others arms An auspcious
opening. Enter John Dexter, consummatcly 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's face is ashen, eyes wild and heavily
ringed. She trembles violently When she hears
Of the betrothal she insists upon speaking t the
girl alone--she was the girls mothers dearest
friend; she loves her BY these cryptic
statements know there's a skeleton dangling
somewhere about in that tapestred. wsll-but-
Tered establishment, amelia Gardner, the
morphlne-obsessed wife, terrified by her hus-
bands hidden past, creates the necessary
psychic atmosphere Of tragedy and looming
disaster. Despite her warnings, the girl de-
cdes she will continue to love and to marry
Jack whatever tides, whereuPon We 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 as the thief and so the
railroad detective, Tom Lane, appears. demand
ing a warrant for young Dexter's arrest. Young
Dexter is eventually arrested and Sylvia weeps
real tears Appear the villain. Doctor Malone,
sinking. einister, with face like 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
rea son: we know, and everybody knows that
he knows more than he tells he knows. John |
Flood, as Doctor Malone. is consummatcy sue
aessful IN winning every ones suspicion and
Pretty soon We learn he has stolen |
the $1,000 while Mrs Dexter was unconscious |
from drugs maid. Laura, placed i'm the |
by Malone as a spy is accused of
,orniving in the theft, and to save herself de-
lounces the great John Dexter for what he is
an escaped convict, charged with murder the
lotorious Jim Mccarthy. She tells all she
SHOWS, \ respected citizen and esteemed can
liGate 70 Congress moment before, the great
ohu Dexter breaks down under the exposure.
Ic know the hour had 10 come He groars
while the curtain drope
Rroathlcss, eager We next find or,rsoI,as
tewing the abode Of the barertI Doctor Ma
one. Dawson. the Dsyter butler ana ,rsIore.s
euchman. prowIs about. fer<v shaking also
Laessed bv tho morphine mend Suddenly the