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A Peculiar Lawsuit

A Peculiar Lawsuit image
Parent Issue
Day
6
Month
November
Year
1896
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Richard Mansfield, the greatest character actor on the American stage, and who will be at the Grand opera house, Nov. 18, is likely to have a novel lawsuit on his hands. The following particulars of it are taken f rom yesterday's Detroit Free Press : ' "Richard Mansfield is nothing if not original. He and Charles Frohruan are, ín a way, partners in the Garrick theater, New York, were William Gillette's new play, 'Secret Service,' is having a seasou of surprising success. Mr. Mausfield is booked to play in that theater for three weeks, beginuing November 23, and he wants the Gillette play removed in time for him to enter on the engagement on the appointed day. Mr. Frohman objects to interrupting the run of 'Secret Service,' and Mr. Mansfield proposes to appeal to the law to carry his puint - either in obtaining au award of damages or in getting possession of the theater. Beiug Mr. Frohman's partner, the snit, if brought, will necessarily be brought by Mr. Mansfield in part against himself. The New York Tribune directs attention to this ourious state of affairs. Mr. Mansfield biings a suit against Mr. Mansfield and Mr. Frohman, to collect damages because Mr. Mansfield and Mr. Frohman have not permitted Mr. Mansfield to play in the theater of which Mr. Mausfield and Mr. Frohman are the directors. This is quite clear. If Mr. Mansfield wins tbis suit, he will receive such damages as the court may award for the loss of his engagement. Of these damages he must himself pay his share, but, oa the otber hand, he will also be receiving his share of the profits of 'Secret Service.' Moreover, he will be playing somewhere else, if he be aot playing at the Garrick, and he will doubtless be receiving enormons profits from his acting, wherever it is. "Now, snppose Mr. Mansfield lose this suit. He will then be relieved of the necessity of paying his share of the damages, he will have the porfits of his own acting, wherever it is done, and be will get his share of the profits of 'Searet Service, ' without any drain from them into his own pocket in the way of damages. It will be seen that the proposed litigation is a good deal like tossing up a coin with a head on each side of it. The question is suggested whether it would be poasible for a man to make a living by bringing suits when he wins and saving the damages when he loses."

Article

Subjects
Ann Arbor Argus
Old News