A THEATRICAL SQUABBLE.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2913, 17 June 1878, Page 3

A THEATRICAL SQUABBLE.

Her? Bandmcnn, an actor of the Adelphi Theatro, appear d before Mr Flowers at Bow street, on April 20, to a summons charging him with having committed a violent assault on Mrs Roashy, the actress and present lessee of the Queen's Theatre. There were r!so cross summonses for alleged assaults on Herr Bandmann by Mr George Ererett and Mr 0. Morelli, of the Queen's Theatre. Mrs Eiusby, who appeared ucable to raise her rieiit arm, end was consequently sworn with the left hand, deposed, that she was the present tenant of the Queen's Theatre, Long - acre, and in January last she purchaccd of the defendant his adaptation of a German play of Mosenthal's entitled Madelaine Morel, which she-had advertised for prduction at that theatre. The defendant had occasionally attended the rehearsals _of the piece, and had shown much ill-temper, and had tri A to impede the production of the piece. There was some dispute as t<Kcertain passages in the play which had been altered, and as to the action of the piece, and he took up four acts of the piece • which were lying on the prompter's table, and, using violent language, said he would not allow the alterations to be made. The witness refused to allow the defendant to take away the four acts which were lying on the prompter's table, remarking that the piece was her property. The defendant replied that the statement was not true. She had: raised her arm and was hold of one of the books, at the same time protesting against such language being applied to her and in, the presence of her company. He dashed the four manuscript books down on the table and seized the fifth act, which was in the hands of the prompter. Witness begged him-to wait till the rehearsal was over, and then discuss the objections which he had made, at the same time endeavouring to recover possession of the manuscripts ; but he'seized her right arm with great violence, wrenching it with his fingers, and struck her a severe blow on the shoulder. (A medical gentleman removed the bandage from witness's avin, which exhibited blackened bruise-marks extend-, ing from above the elbow to the wrist, and completely disfiguring the limb.) She called upon the company to bear witness that he bad assaulted her, and told him "that it was not the first time he had struck a woman," upon which he called her a liar. She had been unable to use her arm since. The injuries had caused a numbness "of the fingers and arm, and also in the back of her neck, and she bad been in too much pain to get her usual sloop. Her "general health catf affected. ;On the following night, after she had taken out the summons, the defendant came to her residence, and forced his way into her presence; tFking her by the left aim; but she refused to speak to him, \\ren out of the room for the protection of her ■erwnts, and desired one of them, a man, to eject him from the house. In cross-examination witness stated that she had paid Mr, Bandmann £50 when the agreement was signed, and he was to have another £50 when the piece was produced. .Shehad never expressed her determination notippay the other £50. During the rehearsal opinions were expressed md suggestions were made by different persons, as usual. Defendant complained.of some alterations she hal made, out which were in reality only grammatical corrections. If'was true that she had recently fallen from a horse while acting at the Standard Theatre, ant) had .bruised her side severely; b^t she denied that she ever said her arm was injured on that occasion. Her left arm was.slightly bruised while bathing at Brighton, and she might have mentioned this Fact to Miss Milton. Her , rights ■-'•mh - was perfectly free from bruise or,,injury of ,- any. kind , until this assault was committed. Dr Bouse, of Grosvenor • place, deposed that he saw Mrs Bbusby's arm on th« even- ' ing of the assault, and saw a very large bruise the size of his hand, besides smaller bruises which appeared to be caused by the pressure of fingers. It must have taken a very severe blow to have caused the larger bruise and the sensation of numbness of which she complained. The effect would be to prevent the use of the limb for a time, and he ordered her to place it yn a sling. The injuries were evidently of very recent occurrence. Mr George Eyeritt, stagemanager at the Queen's, deposed to hearing the altercation while seated at the back of the stage, and to having intercepted the defendant as he was walking away with the manuscript of the play, which he took from bim by forces The defendant said the piece should not bejftayed, and threatened to apply for an injunction. Witness told him that he had his remedy, but it was his duty to see that the book was not taken out of the theatre. Mr Henry Plunket, actor and author, knqtm professionally as Mr Grattan, gave corroborative evidence, and said that when he saw the complainant's arm it was in a frightful state. Mr Flowers consented to, admit the defendant on bail, on providingtwo sureties of £50 each, ■ besides entering into his own recognisances in £IC3. Herr Bandmann then entered the witness <• box, and the cross - summonses;were taken. Witness stated the ground of Ms objection to the_alterations made in the.piece, and especially to the. omissions from the last; act. Mrs Beiisby said the play was lur own, and claimed the right to do as she likedwith it, which witness protested against. Witliesß denied that he ever struck or even pushed Mrs Rousby. These summonses were eventually dismissed, and the case stands over for a few days.—Home News.