The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-04-22 00:00:00

MR. SIMS REEVES AND THE EDIN-
BURGH CHORAL UNION.

Oa Monday the action brengit by Me. film- R wires
: against the directors of the Edinburgh Choral Union
was heard before Sheriff Cempbell. The circumstances
out of which It arose are as follows : Mr. Reeves
engaged with the Choral Union to sing the tenor solos
in Mr. Arthur Sellivann oratorio of "The Prodigal
Ben," anal also to render a recitative and air in a mis-
cellaneous programme. His fee wee to te 90 guineas.
Toe concert wan fixed f.ir the 14h November, end Mr.
Reeves arrived.in Edinburgh that day, earl Came at
the usual time to the Music Hall. Ile sang all the
portions of the or vtorio set down for him till the duet
preceding the tenor solo and rffiotett, when he left the
platform and drove to his hotel. Tile direct-re
were left to face the audience as best they might,
with excuses for the unaccountable absence of
Mr. Reeves and the non-fnltihnent of his engage-
ment. They heard nothing of Mr. Reeves until neer
the conclusion of the concert, when he sent a message
saying he would like to see the treasurer and settle
with him. The treasurer called at Slaney'e (Deuglav)
Hotel, and was informed by Mr. Reeves that iseve e
indieposition Inai compelled him to leave the hall before
finishing his engagement. On that acconnt he said he
wonlil take ten guineas off his fee of 90 guieeas. The
treasurer etated that as Mr. Reeves had left the hall
without mentioning his intention to any official and
with but little more than half his parts snag, the
directors of the Choral Union felt they could only pay
him 60 guineas. This sum Mr. Reeves refused to take.
and, as no arrangement conld be came to, he raised
the present action in the Sheriff Court for the recovery
of the fell amount of hie fee—viz ,90 guineas. The
(Aloes( Union had lodged in coartt he 6) guineas which
they tendered Mr. Reeves as payment.
Mr. George AI, Wood acted for the pureuer, and
M. William Saunders for the defenders.
The first witness was Dr. R ebert Paterson, ex andeeit
by Me. Wood, who said On the 15th if comber list
I rec deal a telegram from Mr. Sims Reeve*, who
was in Edinburgh. He consulted me in regard to
his throat. I found that his voice was husky, ap-
troacbing to hoarseness, with the throat inftemet.
lie had a ceugh, and the bronchial tubes, including
the vocal organs, were also in a state of irritation.
I prescribed for him various things, the object of
which WWI to allay the existing irritation. Mr.
Reeves sal I he had sung in Edinburgh on the pre.
vions evening, but had not completed lie engagement,
Speaking from observation and experience, I suspected
that the complaint had been in existence for a short
time—probably a day or two before I saw him--and I
believe that the inflammatory affection was arriving at
a climax. As a medical man, I have no doubt that
Mr. Reeves was suffering on the 14th from that con-
plaint I give it as my opinion that his hoarseness had
been exasperated by straining, viliieh might alto cause
the red appearances of the throat. Mr. Reeves told
me himself that it was with very great difficulty that
he :sang in Edinburgh on the previous night, and of
course he would naturally strain his voice. I continued
to attend Mr. Reeves from the 11 ffi to the 2-4th Novem-
ber inclusive. He sang on the 16th. One great object
of his telegraphing to me was to see whether he would
bee his to complete b is cc gagement toeing in Glasgow on
the 16th, en that, if he could not, he might communicate
in time with the parties. Ile improved Ell much that
I was able to announce to him that he might sing on
Wednesday, the 16th, if he took great carenot to strain
his voice, lie did sing, but not with satisfaction to
hinvelf nor yet the audience. On the 17th he was not
quite so well, which I attributed to the exertion of
binning on the previous night. Straining his vi ice in
that condition would, of course, tend to inj ore it. On
the 23rd of November I granted a certificate to Mr.
H. eves, to the effect that he was labouring under
hoereeness and unable to sing.
S,veral witnesses were called, who corroborated the
statement that Mr. Sims Reeves laboured under a
cold on the days mentioned.
Mr. Wood then announced that he proposed to call
Mrs. Reeves, Mr. ll:eves' valet, and others, at a
future hearing, and the Court then adjourned.