New-York tribune., 1919-10-30
ChalOner Is GOING
On Stage to Act
Story of His Life
''Robbery Under Law Will
Be Produced Here in His
Fight for Lunacy Law
Reform; Explains Action

John Armstrong Chaloner, pro-
founder OF that classic query, "Who's
,ooney now?" has taken up his abode
IN Wash 'nGton Square since the courts
of this state have decided that he
isn't now. and is about to go on the
by himself, entitled Robbery Under
Law"
In Il ukase .ssued from his new
residence yesterday to the Gentlemen
of the Fourth Estate in Solemn Con-
clave Assembled" MIR. Chaloner as
serted that the production will appear
on Broadway some time in January,
and explained that while he would
any day IL the week rather see good
play acted than act in good play"
ne was obliged to appear in Robbery
Under Law"
In explanation of this stand, he in-
cludes in his announcement an c@ce<]a
of u conversation between slaAseif and
:he manager to whom =. nas intrusted
the production of the play. In this he
quotes the manager as saying:
"Why cont you get a really good
actor to play the role of Hugh Slut
field instead of doing it yourself?"
Must Act Role Himself
~ smiled broadly" Chaloner says
frankness-not to say bluntness-and
then said: No, by Cd. Nobody acts
Hugh Stuffed but myself
"lf 1T were a question of my at
tempting to act the role of Othelo
or Richard your condition afore-
said would be enthusiastically &C
cepted by me. But it is not qnes
ton o. acting Richard or Othello,
but John Armstrong Chaloner--upon
whom Hugh Stutfeld is drawn-and
no living man can act John Armstrong
Chaloner so we'll as can. | can act
John Armstrong Chaoner to the life!"
The play, Mr.. Chaloner explains, is
IN the nature of an attack upon "The
Lunacy trust" and will follow in its
plot the events of his own life. He
also submits that he should be able
to act his part
If" he continues, 81 could face
Builard in life aud death struggle
Tor the possession Of q self cooking
revolver, which ultimately exploded
and killed one of the combatants--if
] could face the real Bullard and the
real cartridges in real life--I surely
could a pretended Bullard and blank
cartridges on the stage.
Can Re-enact Life Scenes
"The same reasoning holds good for
my re-enacting the hold-up by me-
at the point of q revolver of the alienists
supported by strong-arm men, in the
second act, as well as the fight later
with keeper when behind the bars.
All said exciting events actually oc-
CURED, and all | should have to do is
show the public how they occurred. If
the pub ic is interested enough in
tO TO to
speak on the subject, and the lectures
delivered in Richmond, Va, indicated
that 1t is, it is reasonable to suppose,
respectfully submit, that it will be
interested enough to come and see how
1t happened"
Temporarily at least Mr.. Chaloner
has abandoned his plan Of delivering
a series of addresses in Cooper Union.
He was unable to rent the auditorium
there on Sundays.
"Thereupon," he says. "something
approaching a mild form of panic in
vaded my soul. lest there should be
hitch in landing a good-szed audience,
having found by experience in Rich
mond, where ! lectured for four
winters IN succession once q month,
hat 1T is far easier to compete with
churches than the theaters regarding
getting an audience"
II the play should not succeed" Mr..
Chaloner's manifesto says in conclu-
sion, Il shall have no kick coming
shall feel that have stood up to the
game and faced the music and laid
my financial tribute aforesaid on the
altar of liberty the altar OF
'unacy law reform-and in the future
may with d clear conscience confine
my efforts at reforming lunacy law
20 the cheap and easy form of public
speaking, rather than the arduous and
expensive one Of acting.
"And last, though very far from
east shall thereby have my evenings
OF to go to what theater please and
watch the players. rather than be
forced to contne myself to one theater
and watch not inp-brt NV ono