Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-16
REEL ONE

scene: 0nfcf ~ IdDVer Charles Edtpin Summers IN
the hnickerbockcr Theatre Building, Ncro York.
~HARLEs EDWIN SUMMERS had nut the finishing
I touch to his latest movie scenario. He sat back
In his office at 400 Broadway. New York. and
breshed deeply with satisfaction and relief The plot
was finished; the scenario lacked nothing required to
satisfy movie picture audience.
There that's donenow. who'll the hero's part?"
Lawyer Summers thought the story again: A
bogus heir turns In New York and makes his claim
Ia court to unclaimed fortune Learning from pa.
fled In court about dead relatives the deceased
he makes his story fit the by asserting he is
the Of dead brother or sister who has lived
abroad He then tells romantic story. replete with
incident and adventure, which the screen. would
take the audience back to the Of his father
and mother and then carry them forward to the time
when he appears in TO the unclaimed
Not bad. not at all bad, unused Summers but is
81 convncing?"
Experienced in writing scenarios Summers knew
that movie TO be successful must impress the
audience realistcaly must carry the atmosphere OF
Summers studied the scenario He read It over
several times. Then his hand fell his knee with
rcsoundins whack.
Real? Why. it's real as life! Convincing? Why,
1t would convince any judge!
Why. yes. For awyer Summers was not writing this
scenario for ordinary motion picture audience He
was writing 1t for picked gallery. who would consist
OF Judge lawyers and other increduous habitues OF
the court CONTINGENCIES indeed in legal phrase,
had to be the essence Of his endeavor
In It Lawyer Summers had conceived what the Attor-
neyGenerals office some months later call "a
brilliant idea" The idea nothing less than actually
to stage scenario in real life-to an actor
TO play the part Of the bogus heir, appear before
Judge in Surrogates court and tell the romantic story
he had conceived and get the money-most OF which
Lawyer Summers would later collect.
From the records filed in the Surrogae's' Court 1t
was not very difficult for Summers to find case
which his scenario could be moulded, according
to officials There they say, he found the record of
the death OF Thomas O'Keefe. in December 3, 1909.
According to the records OKeefe died without heirs,
and the proceeds of his estate had been deposited with
tho State Comptroller.
But who could he get to play the part OF the OKeefe
heir?
One day Summers into Mark J. Jordan. Jordan
had dabbled in trying to sell scenarios and had acted
10 the movies He not OF the heavy strong
tonal type, but played rather quiet subdued parts
Moreover, Jordan down and out without job and
penniless. Summers looked him over. and-according
to the confession later to by Jordandecided he
was the to play the hero.
How old are your" Summers asked.
"Thiry-si1,.'
'Fne--hat s just about the age"
THE age for what?" asked Jordan THE age to he
my missing heir" said Summers.
Jordan registering establishment. then told Of
the OKeefe estate.
Five hundred dollars looked very large the movie
actor He registered satisfaction and acquescence
Come into my Office, said Summers. Here nc gave
20 Jordan the scenario Of his storyhe story that he
was to put over"
So unusual 10 this scenario from the standpoint Of