walker began monitoring riley and denying him access to liquor, but he found ways to evade him. at a stop at the masonic temple theatre in louisville, kentucky, in january 1890, riley paid the hotel's bartender to sneak whiskey to his room. he became too drunk to perform and was unable to travel to the next stop. nye terminated their partnership and the tour in response. the reason for the breakup could not be kept secret, and hotel staff reported to the "louisville courier-journal" they saw riley in a drunken stupor walking around the hotel. the story made national news and riley feared his career was ruined.