Evening star., 1924-05-31
BROADWAY BETS GIRL
TINNEY HIT RELENTS|
Eollies Beauty Still Calls Comedian
Sweetest Thing in World"
Despite Alleged Beating.
HIS WIFE REMAINS STEADY
theatrical Folk Amusedly Awaits
Solution of Latest Triangle.
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.
Ey Consolidated Press

Ey Consolidated Press.
NEW YORK, May 31.-Stage friends
of Frank Tinney, erstwhile black
face comedian, came to his defense
today, asserting that his arrest was
due to an hysterical chorus girl fall
ing into the hands of persons seek
Broadway sensation. The funny
mans friends are inclined to agree
with him that in the end Imogene
Wilson, the Follies' beauty, will not
appear as prosecutor.
According to the girls story the
alleged beating she got last Tues
day at the hands of the humorous
man, was far from being the first
one. Often, she says, he had choked
her and punched her before and it
just made her love him more and
more.
stiII Thinks He's Sweet.
opinion that Frank Tinney lis the
sweetest thing that ever lived and
therefore Broadway cannot figure out
how she can ever bear to put him be-
hind the cruel bars of the workhouse.
The theatrical colony Is certain she
will relent-if the lawyers will let
her. There is a report, however, that
the girl is being sought to institute
civil procee dings against Tinney for
something less than a million dollars
of damage to her epidermiS and the
nerves Hereunder
Frank has been getting something
like $1,000 a week at the Music Box,
I,,,N Toe, le.N,N [Ar n1 1an hn
seldom if ever had any money. She
thinks that Mrs. Tinney must have
gotten most of the salary. So it is
doubtful IL verdict of even so mod
est a sum of say 100000 could be col
1ected even if it could be obtained
from an fmpressionable jury of mea.
The whole episode is one of the
most amusing that New Works great
White Way has ever known. The re
is very little sympathy for the black
and blue chorus girl, because of her
continued professions of love for the
married man. Mrs. Tinney appa rently
is not at all cut-up by the affair. She
says Frank is just a naughty boy
and the poor girl from the Follies
was foolish ever to believe any of
the things Frank said to her.
Swiped Stockings, She Says.
Mrs. Tinney did more or les SIS play
Limousine the first day she read about
Miss Wilson's suicide sociable," when
the girl announced she was going
away from here, because she had
uuarreled with Frank and she knew
Things could never be the same again.
Frank had even gone to the extent,
Miss Wilson said, of swiping some of
her finest and Sheerest silk stockings
and transported them illegally to his
legal wife. It was too much.
SO. while her friends looked on in
funeral difges, and while telephone
'alls had been put in for the police
and the lindertakers, the beauty of
foi sshs pTettiest girl
pills and waited for the end. The po-
lice came and brought the doctors.
The undtrtakers followed with eager
eyes. The doctors laughed, the police
Scowledt and the undertakers groaned
in disa Rpointment.
Frank Placates Wife.
Mrs. Tinney read all this while
Frank sat by her side. 1t was too
much. ''.Out you co. she said nix,
nix" smiled Frank. But out he went
just thc same when bluecoat was
hailed By the irate wife.
Er.lnE has an undeniable way with
women, however, for telephone mes
sage brought wifey back to his arms.
Miss Wilson's telephone bell has been
dT.ng a ringing marathon the last
tv venty-four hours. and Frank Of the
lpIney voice has been at the other end
of the line, but at last reports Imo-
f,ene was still obdurate.
In her obduration, nevertheless, she
Nas telling her friends all about
her life with Frank, and saying that
knew his great worth, his bigness
of heart, his sweetness of soul. as
she knew all these swell" traits
But even if Imogene relents and
forgives and does not sue, Broadway
is wondering just how the girl and
the wife are going to arrange the
triangle. In this, however, Broad
way must have faith in Frank. He
rsed to be in the varieties.