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Showstopping brawlers agree to withdraw charges in case
boston.com ^ | 6-7-07 | John R. Ellement

Posted on 06/07/2007 11:44:27 AM PDT by JZelle

The featured combatants in what is now known as the "Brawl at Symphony Hall" did not shake hands yesterday, but they did settle their differences.

Michael J. Hallam and Matthew B. Ellinger, who gained national notoriety when they struggled with each other during a May 9 performance of the Boston Pops, both appeared in Boston Municipal Court, initially seeking criminal charges against each other.

But after a 10-minute closed-door hearing, the two men and their lawyers emerged, and a court official later said they agreed not to pursue any charges against each other. The incident led to conductor Keith Lockhart briefly stopping the opening night performance.

"Both parties have agreed to withdraw their complaints against each other," said Rosemary Carr, first assistant clerk magistrate, who presided at the hearing. "And the court has allowed them to."

Images of a violent fight on the balcony of Symphony Hall, captured by news cameras covering the Pops, were broadcast nationwide. Hallam, 44, of Bourne, can be seen grabbing Ellinger's hair and then being pushed out the door, his shirt torn open.

Boston police initially only forced the two men to leave the hall, but a few days later the department changed course and assigned a detective to the case. Yesterday, Police Department spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said that an investigation was done and that authorities are satisfied with the way the incident was resolved.

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: bostonpops; fight; operahooligans

1 posted on 06/07/2007 11:44:29 AM PDT by JZelle
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To: JZelle

“That third clarinet is off key!”

“Oh, yeah! Who says?”


2 posted on 06/07/2007 11:49:49 AM PDT by PBRSTREETGANG
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To: JZelle

I saw Keith Lockhart and TBP this past spring, Riverside Park. It was great, and KL is a cutey!


3 posted on 06/07/2007 11:51:25 AM PDT by synbad600
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To: synbad600
Keith Lockhart


4 posted on 06/07/2007 12:00:21 PM PDT by synbad600
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To: JZelle

The Pops should have swung right into the theme from Rocky.


5 posted on 06/07/2007 12:03:13 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Enoch Powell was right.)
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To: JZelle

They were probably fighting to get to the exit.


6 posted on 06/07/2007 12:05:40 PM PDT by ozzymandus
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: JZelle

I’ll bet a cell phone was involved.


8 posted on 06/07/2007 1:03:15 PM PDT by bruin66 (Time: Nature's way of keeping everything from happening at once.)
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To: JZelle

They may not get off when it comes to a civil damage suit. I imagine the ownership/management of Symphony Hall and the Boston Pops are still steaming mad. Plus arts organizations are always short on cash, and where better to get it?


9 posted on 06/07/2007 1:17:20 PM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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To: bruin66

You are correct!


10 posted on 06/08/2007 11:39:57 AM PDT by -=SoylentSquirrel=- (Bacon is the only thing that keeps me sane.)
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