Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1880 Vol. 3 N. 5

October 5th, 1880.
DOMESTIC
YOL. III.
13
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
A.2STD E X P O R T
TRADE.
NEW YOKK, OCTOBER 5TH, 1880.
No. 5.
THE BURDETT-ESTEY ORGAN CASE.
T is a real treat to visit the trade
in Philadephia and Baltimore.
I I like
to hear Mr. Gray, of Slioe-
NEW AND STARTLING REVELATIONS.
macker & Company, talk about
CHARGES OF FRAUD AND CORRUPTION AND BLACKMAIL.
moving to New York and opening
a branch store there ; I like to
ARREST OF RILEY BURDETT'S PARTNER AND MANAGER IN THE CASE.
hear James Bellak vow that the
piano and organ trade is getting
HIS INDICTMENT BY THE GBAND JURY.
as bad as the sewing machine
IN JAIL AWAITING TRIAL.
trade (he couldn't say anything
worse about it); I like to bask in
the smile of Boner, and chat with
VER since the decision in this famous case, we have been trying to get at
the hearty Trumpler of J. Ditson
the inside history of the affair, so that we might place the true animus be-
& Co. ; I am fond of spending fore our readers. The recent astounding revelations at Brattleboro', Vermont,
a half hour with Woelsifer, of Al- concerning the stealing of the First National Bank of that town by its Pres-
brecht's, where, by the way, I ident, his flight and his arrest, have come at a time when we have about
first saw a Taber organ exposed concluded our investigations, and afford us an opportunity of exposing the
for sale.
whole matter. This we propose to do in a series of articles which we
commend to the consideration of the trade.
* *
I have met several times in
In this, the first article, we shall merely outline some of the principle fea-
Worcester, Mass., a benevolent- tures of the case, and give an account of affairs as they now stand with
looking gentleman who, I was Silas M. Waite, the Brattleboro' bank robber.
told, was the manufacturer of the
Before we have finished this series of articles we expect to expose such a
Taber organ ; but I always look- mass of corruption as has not been brought into public light in many a day.
Silas M. Waite absconded last June, having defalcated in the manage-
ed upon this statement in the light of a joke.
ment of the Brattleboro' Bank to the extent of about half a million of dollars.
Until Tuesday, September 21st, when he was arrested in Omaha, Nebraska,
In Baltimore I never find time hang heavily on my hands, when I have at the house of his brother-in-law, Truman Buck, by special detective W.
to visit such parties as Knabe & Co., and Stieff & Co., the manufacturers ; H. Shields, Waite had succeeded in hiding his tracks so well that no suspi-
and Otto Sutro, George Willig & Co., and Sanders & Stayman, the dealers. cion of his whereabouts was entertained, except by a few of the blood hounds
At Knabe & Co's, although Mr. Ernest Knabe may be traveling in the West, of the law, the popular supposition being that he had fled for Europe.
as he was when I was in Baltimore last, still Mr. Keidel will be found to take
Waite was brought back to Brattleboro' on Friday morning, September
24th. He returned as a criminal under the United States laws and will un-
his place with exceeding grace.
doubtedly be tried in the United States Court. He freely admitted to
*
the detectives on his way east that he took the money from the bank, but
* *
professed a determination to make a stout fight against conviction on the
Everyone in Philadelphia and Baltimore was up to his ears in business. ground that he never applied a dollar of the money for his own benefit. This
is an absurd plea. He said that the first money he took was $25,000, which
* *
Albert Weber has secured Stemberg to advertise the Weber piano this he gave his brother to establish a coal-yard in Chicago, from which he ex-
season. It will cost Mr. Weber about $20,000 at least, to send Mr. Sternberg pected a return of 15 per cent, per annum. The great fire wiped this out,
however, and the investment was a total loss. He also claimed to have
about the country, and I trust he may get it back again.
furnished the money for the Burdett organ works, and to have sunk the
•* * *
Albert is a very nice young man, but he talks too much. He has been whole half million in ways similar to these. He professed to have taken only
frequently heard to remark lately that the MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE EEVIEW $800 away with him. The detectives say that large sums of money were
is " going for him,"—whatever that may mean—and that he could break the telegraphed to him, and it is known that he purchased a cattle ranch during
his stay in the west, where it is probable he expected to remain for the rest
blamed paper all up if he had a mind to.
All right, young man, but when you undertake the above piece of busi- of his life, thinking that no decided effort would be made to capture him.
It will be remembered that in the trial of the Burdett patent case, the
ness I would advise you to get a partner, for you will have more work on your
hands than you can attend to alone. A friend remarks that Mr. Weber defendant was able to make a complete answer to every claim of infringe-
ment of the patent; it was so admitted by Burdett, his counsel, and by
probably meant his threat in jest.
experts, and this was only gainsaid or denied by a scheme concocted by
Jest so !
Burdett, or, more likely, by his partner and intimate friend, Silas M.
*
Waite, the bank forger, when the idea was hit upon of charging the de-
* *
with forging the exhibit and the testimony with which they (the
The impending failures in Boston which the MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE fendants
defendants)
expected to meet this case.
REVIEW alluded to about a month ago, did not come off after all; but the par-
It is charged by the evidence that transpired upon the trial that one
ties ]ust escaped by the skin of their teeth.
However, they can probably escape in the same way every time, which Moses O. Nichols, who had already testified once in favor of the defendants,
means from one to three times a year, as it is not for the interests of the par- had afterwar'ds attempted to blackmail one of the defendants to the tune of
$1,000, threatening that, in case the money was not paid, he would go over
ties carrying them to let them go under.
Still we need not give up all hope of interesting news from Boston within to the plaintiff; and as this defendant (Jacob Estey) did not blackmail '' worth
the next four weeks, as another, but smaller house, is getting into deep a cent," he (Nichols) at once went to Burdett's partner, the forger, Waite,
who bought him up, and with his aid concocted and attempted to carry out
•water because the financial supplies are about to be cut off.
a scheme to ruin Estey.
*
These parties, according to the testimony in the case, secured the ex-
* *
hibits on which Estey depended to win this suit. These exhibits were sent
Speaking of water makes me think of the Hallet, Davis & Co. stock.
to Burdett's lawyer in New York, on the plea that they were needed in
*
taking testimony, and while there, were mutilated andjprepared for Burdett's
* *
fiendish scheme, to not only smirch Estey, but prepare the way for a
The Young Journalist—with a capital J—who squeezes other papers for piratical attack on the entire organ trade.
matter for the Art Midget, and calls it editorial work, asks this question :
An examination of the testimony in this case shows that Silas M. Waite
" Can a weak editor strengthen his position by publishing his own bribed Moses O. Nichols by the payment of money in Brattleboro', Vermont;
that C. C. Converse, the vicerpresident of the Burdett Organ Co., met
portrait ? "
I should reply, " decidedly not," and should advise the Young Journal- Nichols at the Union Square Hotel, New York, paid his bill, and also paid him
additional money ; and in the trial of the case, the counsel for Burdett, while
ist—with a capital J—not to try it.
strongly admitting the complete answer of the organs which had been put in
*
evidence by the defendants, had simply this reply to make : That the defend-
I MEMBERS
would say OF
more,
but as ENJOYING
I am about THEMSELVES.—On
to start on an extended
THE TRADE
Tuesday western
night, ants, or their witnesses, had. forged these exhibits, and that but for their
trip,
I will hold
over I. until
the next of issue.
September
28, Mr.
Anderson,
the Celluloid Piano Key Co., Mr. H. forgery, the honest Mr. Waite and his partner, Mr. Burdett, would secure
Behning, the well known piano-maker, and Mr. S. Tower, the piano key their just dues.
We have here simply outlined a single one of the many extraordinary
maker, witnessed a performance of "Alixe," by Clara Morris at the Park
points in this case, and in subsequent articles shall go deeper into details.
theatre in Boston.
14
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
TRADE NOTES
October 5 th, 1880.
MUNROE ORGAN REED CO.—The Munroe Organ Reed Co. are putting in.
a new and larger engine and boiler, to meet the increasing demands of their
business.
CELLULOID PIANO KEY CO.—Mr. Isaac Anderson, president of the Cellu-
loid Piano Key Company, of this city, was in Boston last week on business.
REVOLUTION IN MUSICAL IDEAS.—It seems to have been reserved for the
Worcester organ manufacturers to discover that a reed organ was of more
musical importance than a grand piano, at least we should infer so from the
fact that while a gold medal was offered for the best reed organ, only a
silver one was offered for the best grand piano.
THE BRIDGEPORT ORGAN CO.—The Bridgeport Organ Co. have lately
indulged in the luxury of surrounding their offices with handsome black wal-
nut paneling.
DEALERS IN TOWN.—Mr. W. S. Moore, of Greensboro', N. C, and
Mr. H. J. Williams, of Weaver & Williams, Duke Centre, Pa., were in the
city September 29th.
ESTEY ORGAN CO.—The Estey Organ Co., succeeding O. S. Burr & Co.,
Newburgh, N. Y., David W. Jagger, manager, have removed from 56 and 58
Water street to the new Carter building, No. 70 Water street.
BAY STATE ORGAN CO.—Mr. F. Winslow Bailey, of the Bay State Organ
Co., states that their sales are largely increasing in the West. They made a
good showing at the Kansas State Fair through W. W. Fluke, of Lawrence,
who is one of the dealers in the State.
BLACK WALNUT.—A New York paper in a review of the lumber market,
estimates the total amount of black walnut lumber used for the year at
15,000,000 feet, of which the four Boston Organ Cos. are said to use
9,000,000 feet.
GEO. W. COLBY.—Mr. Geo. W. Colby, of 23 East 14th street, this city,
is agent for the following combinations, and many leading solo performers :
The Ninth regiment band.
The Arbuckle concert company.
The Chatterton-Bohrer concert company.
TABER.—Did anybody ever hear that there was such an instrument
made, as the Taber Organ ?
CHAS. M. STIEFF.—Mr. Chas. M. Stieff, of Baltimore, has lately issued a
new catalogue, and reports business progressing favorably. Mr. Stieff is
busy preparing for his exhibition at the coming sesqui-centennial in Balti-
OTTO SUTRO.—Mr. Otto Sutro, whose portrait we present above, is one more.
of the most prominent music dealers in Baltimore. Mr. Sutro is also a fine
JARDINE & SON.—The beautiful organ erected in the American Institute
musician, and has been organist for several San Francisco churches, in which Fair by Messrs. Jardine & Son, and now on exhibition, is attracting much
city he formerly resided. His business career has been eminently successful, attention whenever it is played upon. The organ has some very fine stops,
and from a small beginning he has built up a large and prosperous business. which are voiced and regulated; it contains two manuals with 24 stops. It is
He is agent for nearly all the first-class piano and organ makers. Mr. Sutro blown by an engine made by Shriver & Co., and at the close of the Fair it
has one of the most complete establishments, not only of the South, but of will be sent to the Church of the Annunciation at New Orleans. Mr. F. W.
the whole country.
Jardine, who recently arrived from Manchester, England, has been closely
THE SCHOMAOKEE PIANO CO.—The Schomacker Piano Co., of Philadel- looking over all the larger organs of the city and is now en route to the West
with his wife and daughter. Mr. Jardine has built many large organs ; one
phia, talk of opening a branch store in New York city this month.
of the grandest is that in St. Peter's Church, Manchester, with 80 speaking
MILLER'S PATENT DESK.—Otto Sutro, of Baltimore, sajs that he finds the stops and four manuals.
Patent Music Desk a valuable feature of the Miller Upright piano.
NEW HAVEN ORGAN COMPANY.—The New Haven Organ Company are
PER PATTERSON.—"Why has Per Patterson left the service of C. D. just completing a new Automatic and Manual Organ for the patentees, Messrs.
Pease & Co., of this city ?" We thought that they were inseparable.
Bennett k Co., of this city, and the instrument will be on exhibition in this
BLAKE.—Rufus Blake, of the Sterling Organ Co., Derby, Conn., was city when completed. It contains several novel features, which will be
fully described in a subsequent issue of this paper.
billed for Philadelphia and Baltimore the first of last week.
SMITH AMERICAN ORGAN COMPANY.—Mr. H. J. Demarest, of the Smith
REID & THOMPSON.—Mr. Reid, of the firm of Reid & Thompson, of St.
American Organ Company, of Boston, has just returned from a business
Louis, was in the city last week.
tour through Pennsylvania, and reports trade better with the Smith Ameri-
MECHANICAL ORGUINETTE CO. —Mr. J. Burns Brown, of the Mechanical can organ than he has ever seen it before.
Orguinette Co., starts this week on an extended business tour through the
B. SHONINGER ORGAN CO.—The B. Shoninger Organ Co., of 121 Chest-
Western and Southern states.
nut street, New Haven, Conn., find themselves in the midst of a " boom,"
NEW MECHANICAL PIANO. —We attended last week a private exhibition " blizzard," or whatever other name can be used to signify an enormous rush
of a mechanical piano, which posseses some remarkable features, and prom- of business. The number of organs already made by this house is 50,847,
ises to be a remarkably popular instrument. The defects which have and this is being increased to the amount of 25 organs per day, (their full
hitherto largely prevented the introduction of a mechanical piano, viz., large capacity) but still they are behind-hand with their orders. The B. Shoninger
size and high price, have been successfully overcome in this instrument, Organ Co. have the plans drawn and the contracts made for an extensive ad-
while at the same time the power and sweetness of tone have not been sacri- dition to their factory. The new factory and offices will occupy the corner
ficed. We understand that this instrument is to be placed on the list of the of Chapel and Chestnut streets; it will be constructed of brick, and six stories
Mechanical Orguinette Co., of this city, as soon as the arrangements are per- high. The capacity of the entire factory, after the new building is com-
pleted, will be 30 organs per day, instead of 25 as at present.
fected.
WOODS & Co.—Messrs. Geo. Woods & Co., of Cambridgeport, Mass,
FULLER.—Hon. Levi K. Fuller, of Brattleboro,' who has recently been have GEO.
occupied an additional factory building, situated on the opposite
elected to the Vermont legislature, was born in Westmoreland, N. H., Feb- corner just
to their orignal building. The new structure is of brick, 80x30 feet
ruary 24, 1841. He has filled the more important offices in his town. As a
member of the firm of J. Estey & Co., he has traveled extensively in America and five stories high.
AMERICAN AUTOMATIC ORGAN CO.—Mr. G. W. Turner, the general mana-
and Europe in the interests of that house, visiting the Vienna Exhibition in
1873 and Paris in 1878, and as a result his house has a large foreign trade. ger of the American Automatic Organ Co., of 100 Milk street, Boston, Mass.,
President Grant appointed him one of the commissioners to the Vienna ex- is absent from Boston on a business tour through the west, and expects to
position. He was on Gov. Julius Converse's staff, and is commander of the return this week.
only Battery of Light Artillery in the State.
J. BAUER & Co., NEW YORK.—Mr. C. M. Loomis is having great success
BEHNING.—Mr. H. Behning, the well-known and genial piano-maker of with the J. Bauer & Co. Upright piano, and reports it very popular.
this city, was down east last week looking after his agencies.
MCTAMMANY.—A hearing on an appeal in this case, before the Commis-
sioner of Patents, was set down for October 1.
BOSTON RUMORS.—That a certain piano house was in difficulties last
S. BRAIN.ARD'S SONS call the attention of dealers in any part of the
week, on account of a withdrawal on the part of a former financial backer ; country to THE MONTHLY MUSICAL REVIEW they are
that a prominent piano house has or will shortly lose a large piano con- now publishing for the use of dealers, with their imprint and advertising.
tract with a western house.
It is furnished at less than cost of paper and printing, and will be found a
WOODWARD & BROWN.—Messrs. Woodward & Brown, of Boston, Mass.,
are doing a large business in their square pianos. Their warerooms have cheap and effective advertising medium. Samples and terms sent on
lately been ornamented with a fine portrait of the divine Sara. Why don't application.
they send their magnificent upright, celluloid piano to Europe, for the Our complete catalogue of Sheet Music and Music Books sent free.
inspection of the aristocracy ? We feel sure there is no residence here Liberal terms to the trade.
gorgeous enough to contain it.
S. R. LELAND & Co.—Messrs. S. R. Leland & Co., of Worcester, Mass.,
reports a better fall trade this year than they have had since the commence-
Music and Boot Publishers,
Cleveland, 0., and Chicago, 111.
ment of their business forty years ago.
Important to Music Dealers!
S. BRAINARD'S SONS,

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