Music Trade Review

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76
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
October 20th, 1881.
(meaning the said Christian Kurtzman's) factory.
THE END OF OUR LIBEL CASE.
Kurtzman (meaning the said Christian Kurtzman)
T^HE great libel case brought against THE MUSIC- has a queer, dirty, dusty looking place (meaning the
JL AL CRITIC AND TKADE REVIEW by C. Kurtzman manufactory and place of business of the said Christ-
THE STATE OP TKADE.
—sometimes known as Curt—eous Kurtzman—a ian Kurtzman) giving one the impression that every-
Buffalo piano maker, has reached its rightful end. thing was run on a slip shod principle. As I entered
One of the oracles in the piano trade said to our
At the request of the Hon. Edward Hatch, District the place (meaning the aforesaid manufactory and reporter last week, in reply to a question about
Attorney of Erio County, New York State, a nolle place of business of the said Christian Kurtzman) I en- the condition of business:
prnsequi was entered in the case on Thursday, the countered a rather dilapidated looking old individual,
'' There is no doubt that business is active at
6th inst., by District Attorney Rollins of New York whom I immediately recognized as Kurtzman himself, present in this city, but there is not such a rush
County, to which County the place of trial of said (meaning the said Christian Kurtzman) having once as the piano makers have expected this Fall.
an hour in conversation with him (meaning
case had been transferred. Knolle prosequi means, spent
said Christian Kurtzman) about a year before. We don't have a couple of hundred unfilled orders
" proceed no further," and is an actual dismissal the
As I handed him (meaning the said Christian Kurtz- on our books as we had a year ago this Fall; but,
of a case.
man) ray card, he (meaning the said Christian Kurtz- on the other hand, trade was fairly active all
In the present instance the editor of THE MUSICAL man) glanced at it and said, as a look of anxiety through the Summer, which was not the case dur-
CKITIC AND TRADE REVIEW was arrested last March came over his face, (meaning the said Christian ing the corresponding season last year, and if the
upon a bench warrant issued by the District Attor- Kurtzman's face) ' Mr. Kurtzman isn't in; he has average for the past six months is taken the trade
ney of Erie County by reason of an indictment for just gone out.' 'What,' said I, 'Do you mean to will probably make quite as good a showing as for
criminal libel found by the Grand Jury of that say that you are not Mr. Kurtzman ?' (meaning the the corresponding six months of 1880."
Christian Kurtzman.) ' No, no, no,' he (mean-
county. Had the alleged libel been uttered against said the
said Christian Kurtzman) almost gasped,
FAILURES IN AN ACTIVE SEASON.
a resident of the county in which the paper was ing
' I am not Mr. Kurtzman. He has just gone out, I
published, the editor would have been entitled to tell you, and I have got some business upstairs, and
Our reporter found a prominent Thirty-sixth
an examination before an indictment could have I must yo right up there,' and off he (meaning the street piano manufacturer at his factory a few days
been found. As it was, he had no chance to appear said Christian Kurtzman) hurried as fast as his since, busily engaged in pricking up hammer
in his own defence, and might be said to have been legs would carry him, leaving me with the impres- heads on a piano action. In the course of con-
tried and condemned without a hearing. He was sion that I either was grievously mistaken, or that versation our reporter remarked in regard to the
arrested ; immediately released on a writ of habeas Mr. C. Kurtzman (meaning the said Christian recent failure of an old, but small up-town piano
corpus; procured without the slightest trouble, a Kurtzman) was guilty of a very unnecessary lie. house on Broadway that it seemed strange such
change of the place of trial from Erie County to Just as I was about leaving the place another and a concern should fail while business is so active.
man entered the room. 'Who would you
New York County, and from that day until he was younger
The P. P. M. naively replied: " I t is better to
to see,' he (meaning the said other and younger
notified that a nolle prosequi was to be entered, he like
man) asked. * Well, I called to see Mr. C. Kurtz- fail during an active period of business, than at
has never heard from the matter. Therefore there man,' I replied, thinking I would like to see how any other time, because a man is likely to fail with
has been no trial and no condemnation, and the the matter would turn out, ' but I understand that more money in his hands, and consequently with
alleged libelled party abandoned his case after the he is not in.' 'Oh, yes, he is,' said the man, 'he a better chance to make terms and go on again."
affair had been transferred to a county in which just this moment went up stairs. I am his son-
in-law, and will go and call him for you.' And
the editor has his home.
HARK FROM THE TOMB.
lie went* This, said I to myself, as I sat
We reprint below the indictment found against off
down on a piano stool and watched a workman
us by the Grand Jury of Erie Co., which contains (meaning a workman at the manufactory and place O ENTIMENT and business sometimes get into
the entire alleged libellous article. It will be seen of business of the aforesaid Christian Kurtzman) O comical relations. This is particularly made
on reading the article in question that we intended who (meaning the said workman) was sleepily manifest in a letter received by Lyon & Healy of
to convey the idea, by calling a spade a spade, that tinkering an old worm eaten piano (meaning a Chicago. We print it to show how advertising
Mr. Curt—eous Kurtzman did not possess true piano of the said Christian Kurtzman) this is ingenuity may sometimes go to inordinate lengths.
gentlemanly instincts; whereas, the wording of the going to be funny. I waited at least twenty minutes, The idea of a Steinway piano being placed as a
indictment makes it appear that we intended to and it got so funny that it began to grow tiresome, monument upon a lady's grave, and at the same
kill, slaughter, murder, destroy, and everlastingly for neither the untruthful Mr. C. Kurtzman (mean- time advertising the instrument, seems too absurd
the said Christian Kurtzman) nor his son-in-law to be true. But read—
chew up the aforesaid Curt—eous Kurtzman and ing
in an appearance. Very soon after that I dis-
BRIDGEPORT.
all his heirs and assigns from this time forth for- put
covered the secret of the whole matter. My card
evermore. We had no idea until we read this in- bore the words ' THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE Messrs. Lyon & Healy.
GENTLEMEN:—Some time since we presented out-
dictment that we were such a malignant demon. REVIEW,' and about a year before the venerable Mr.
Kurtzman (meaning the aforesaid Christian Kurtz- card as agents of the "White Bronze Monumental
Here it is in full :
man) had contracted with the old Music Trade Works," at Bridgeport, Conn., to some Blooming-
THE INDICTMENT.
Review for a certain amount of advertising. He ton parties who were needing some work in our
(meaning the aforesaid Christian Kurtzman) gave line. The husband examined our sample and
In the Court of Oyer and Ter miner. In and
his note (meaning the said Christian Kurtzman's material very carefully; expressed his admiration
for the County of Erie.
Of February term, in the year of our Lord one promissory notes for the payment of money), so I therefore, but, exclaimed, " no use to show your
understand, in payment for the same, but up to the designs, unless you can furnish me an exact image
thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
present time has never yet met those notes with of a piano, with the lid closed." He told me his
State of New York, County of Erie, \ „„
oo>
cash. He (meaning the said Christian Kurtzman) wife was a great admirer of this instrument and,
City of Buffalo.
j
The jurors of the people of the State of New was one of those individuals who managed to owe ' ' I will have nothing at her grave except a piano."
John
C. Freund, instead of letting John C. Freund
York, in and for the people of the County of Erie,
He further remarked that he had solicited some
aforesaid, being then and there sworn and charged, owe him (meaning the said Christian Kurtzman), bids from marble works, had their prices, but
and
he
(meaning
the
said
Christian
Kurlzman)
evi-
upon their oath present, that on the tenth day of
preferred our material. We told him the
January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight dently thought that I was a representative of the old rather
hundred and eighty-one, at the. City of Buffalo, in Music Trade Review come to get money out of him idea was certainly new to us, as a design for that
(meaning the said Christian Kurtzman), which he purpose, and while we were satisfied the factory
the county aforesaid;
(meaning the said Christian Kurtzman) had flattered had nothing of this kind, they could cast some,
One Christian Kurtzman was, and for many years himself
he (meaning the said Christian Kurtzman) after the patterns were produced, and we would
prior to said day, has been engaged in the trade, would not
be obliged to pay.
C. A. W. write them concerning it. This we did. They
business and o cupation of manufacturing and sell-
expressed themselves willing to cast one, if the
Ing pianos and other musical instruments ; and that
Which said scandalous, malicious and defamatory party ordering would pay the cost of pattern and
on the fifth day of January in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty-one, Chas. libel, he, the said Charles A. Welles, unlawfully and casting. But the statue, price and pattern, make
A. Welles, unlawfully, maliciously contriving and in- maliciously, and wickedly contriving and intending it more expensive than marble; and, we fear, than
tending to injure, scandalize, vilify and defame the to defame, damage, injure and ruin the aforesaid our customer will like. The more we have thought
said Christian Kurtzman, and to bring him into pub- Christian Kurtzman in his aforesaid business as the matter over, the more we think it an appro-
lic scandal and disgrace, and to injure, prejudice, aforesaid, did afterwards to wit, on the tenth day of
memento to one who has devoted their lives
damage and ruin him in his said trade, business and January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight priate
occupation of manufacturing and selling pianos and hundred and eighty-one, publish and circulate at to the advancement of music. It occurs to us
other musical instruments as aforesaid, and to vilify the City of Buffalo and County of Erie aforesaid, this " new departure " for above design, would
and destroy the good name, fame and credit of the wl ere the said Christian Kurtzman there resided take well for " deceased musicians" being entirely
said Christian Kurtzman with force and arms at the and was engaged in said trade, business and occupa- different from any thing in the market, and thus
City of New York, in the County of New York, and tion, manufacturing and selling pianos and other used by distinguished nnisicians, and that it would
State of New York, of his great hatred, malice and musical instruments, and where tne said Christian be an excellent advertising medium of the piano
ill-will towards the said Christian Kurtzman, wick- Kurtzman now resides, to the great damage and there planted at the tomb of the deceased. Any
edly, maliciously and unlawfully did compose, write, scandal of the said Christian Kurtzman and against one observing same erected near burial plot would
print, publish and circulate in THE MUSICAL CRITIC the peace of the people of the State of New York never forget it, nor fail to inspect the name of the
AND TRADE REVIEW. The said THE MUSICAL CKITIC and their dignity.
piano admired by the dead (factory name placed
AND TRADE REVIEW then and there being a news-
EDWABD W. HATCH, District Attorney.
thereon in card form).
paper and periodical printed in the English language,
and published and circulated at the said City of New
the patterns once obtained would answer
Our reporter wandered through the whole length for Since
York aforesaid, and at the City of Buffalo aforesaid,
all time, and the product thereof be widely
a certain false, scandalous, malicious and defama- of Maiden Lane recently in search of a violoncello scattered
throughout many States, it to us, the
tory libel, of and concerning the said Christian Kurtz- case for a friend who has a choice instrument but
man, containing the false, scandalous, malicious, no case to put it in. After a prolonged search Piano thus advertised would enjoy increased sale
defamatory and libellous words and matters follow- among the musical instrument makers and dealers from this without advertising. And since our
ing, of and concerning the said Christian Kurtzman, he was forced to abandon the pursuit as hopeless. party rather prefers the style of your Upright
Pianos, we take this privilege of writing to you
to wit:
One importer and dealer said, " really there is no
and in conclusion gentlemen, we desire to
" C Kurtzman, (meaning the aforesaid Christian use in importing an article of this kind, there is first,
Kurtzman) although knowing that the above-named but little inquiry for them, and they might stay know—are you inclined to furnish the patterns,
piano manufacturer (meaning the aforesaid Christian on hand for a year without a purchaser, you had necessary to produce your Steinway Upright
Piano. The Bronze Company will furnish the
Kurtzman) had allowed himself (meaning the said
get one made to order." This was the kind statue cast. One set of patterns will answer for
Christian Kurtzman) to drop from a fair position better
among the makers of cheap instruments (meaning of talk our reporter heard in nearly every place he all the States in the future.
the aforesaid pianos manufactured and sold by the visited and after finding that the whole stock of
Present this matter to your manufacturing com-
said Christian Kurtzman as aloresaid) to one violoncello cases in the city amounted to three, he pany and report.
where he (meaning the said Christian Kurtzman) made up his mind that there was at least one
Yours truly,
•
is scarcely noticed by the trade or the public, I article of commerce which New York was incapa-
thought it my duty to call upon him (meaning the ble of supplying, and advised his friend to get one
Please write us soon as our man is^anxious to
Baid Christian Kurtzman) while at Buffalo, at his made to order.
place his order.
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