The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-17
DOUBLE SHEET.
The Great Theatrical Riot Got Up
by Watson Webb.
,nlr. and Mrs. Wood Driven from tho y. Stage
The Law q Theatres, on HIssing and
Appiauding.

The Law - Theatres, on Kissing and
Appiauding.
TYrem the Courier aud Enquirer, May 27, 1885
PARK THEATRE. Oa tue appearance Of Mr.
Wood last evening. large portion OF the audience
received him with Kisses; when that individual en-
sdeavored to obtain hearing, and upon Its being
granted, stated that all the ill-will manifested
against him was In consequence OF an untounded
charge contained in the Courier and Enquirer;
that he called upon Col Webb on Wedne sday,
and pointed out TO mm the injustice which had
been done him in two short articles which had
appeared in the paper on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Col Webb informed him that he had not even
perused the N up TO that time, but that he would do
SO, and send for his theatrical reporter, who had
written the paragraphs IN question, and that IT.,
upon vestgausn, he discovered that he had been
misrepresented, full justice should be done hm on
the following morning. Upon this assurance"
continued Mr.. Wood, "I left Col. Webb, under
ihe full conviction that should find full recanta-
st.Jn of the offensive charges In to-day's paper.
Judge, then, OF my surprise this morning, when
found that The same unm. m.rited and false charges
were repeated, under aggravated circumstances.
1 immediately sent friend to hun, demanding
that an explanation should be made tomorrow
morning, and the Colonel not only refused TO re-
tract the offensive charges, but also refused to
grant me that satisfaction which one gentle Ian
owes TO another"
He thenIead letter from Mr. Simpson to us, in
which that gentleman says: "When Mr.. Wood Sc
lected Guy Manneripg' for Mrs. w $ benefit, oa
Tuesday evening, am perfectly satisfied that he
Mrs. COndult's benefit, which was fixed for the
following evening, &C., &c.
Nobody ever charged or insinuated that he did
Mr. Simpson was then called for, and stated
that, on Thursday mornlng, he had notified Mrs.
Conduit that she might have her benefit on Wed
nesday evenings; and, on the same day, at her
request agreed that "Guy Nannerng" should be
played; that, on Tuesday, the parts were cast, and
placed In the green room, and that, on Friday
evening, when passing Mr. Wood, on his way to
his dressing room, he inquired OF hlm what piece
ha ok tnP Mira
that Mr. Wood answered "Guy Mannerlng;"
upon which Mr.. Simpson informed him that Mrs
Conduit had already selected Guy Mannerlng"
for her benefit, on the evening following that OF
Mrs Woods. To this, Mr.. Wood made no an
swer; and, in consequence, he cast " Guy Man.
nering for Mrs WIS benefit; and Mrs Conduit, on
the day following, took Massanielo."
Mrs. Conduit then addressed the audience-Said
that when she accepted of the 25th for her bene-
fit night, che did not know that the Woods were
to play on the preceding and following evenings
that immed diately their arrival from Philadel-
phia, her husband addressed them note, askln
them to play the night OF her benefit, and offer
ing 10 give them any sum they might ask tor their
servlces-that this note was treated with silent
contempt, and no answer returned-that she then
selected "Guy MannenAg" for her benefits and
that although at the time, che felt deeply injured
by being compelled TO give II up, IN consequence
of Mr.. Wood insisting upon playing 1t on the even,
ing previous, for the benefit OF Mrs. w., she had
never complained to any one. She expressed great
regard tor ns. Wood, and offered to shake hands
with both her and her husband, in token ot recon-
eiliation. Mr. Wood shook hands with Mrs. O.,
but II not until after much persuasion, and con,
'tinusl urging from the audience, that Mrs. Wood
consented to shake hands with Mrs. Conduit. Ap-
plause followed, and Mr. Wood considered his
Triumph complete. A gentleman in the pit made
some remark, when Wood came forward in the
CURED, What did you say, sirl Why don't you
speak outf Don't be afraid" This he continued
to repeat in swsggerlns way, until the gentleman
rose and replied; !" said that Mrs. Conduit had
As~ taH nd m
SIR, are the author OF that treatment" Applause,
groans, and hisses followed
Mr.. Wool then again addressed the audience,
and said he cared not for what newspapers said,
and sought for no defence there; but that the
public were his judges, and he wished TO be
tried by them in the theatre. After continual In
terrupton throughout the first act whenever
Wood sung, the opposition gradually relaxed,
although TO the very close o the piece he was not
permitted TO sing song without some hisses.
We were grained 70 perce,,ve, however, ever, r ana1
found attention prevailed, and not hiss or whis-
per was heard. AT the end ot the second act
Wood was encored, and the friends OF that gen.
teman considered his success established. Mrs.
Conduit shortly after made her appea earance; when
behold the gentlemsniy friends Of Mr.. Wood, gen.
temsn, hissed her tor some mInutes!l
Thus much for the details Of what passed last
evening. Now let us examine the present position
OF this staggering vagabond Ctor such he Is by the
laws oi his own country as regards US and the
public. On Tuesday my thestncal reporter ex-
Conduits benefit, and explained his reasons Tor
sppre hendipg such result On the same evening
Mr.. Wood was hlssed AT the Park theatre, and
made a speech, In which he declared the publl-
cation IN the Cowrr a~d E~9sUU uniounded,
and proceeded 20 say that possibly he was hissed
for having made some remarks IN relation 10 the
character OF Mrs. Hambln; " so hs was ready to
prove the truth Of what he had publicly proclaimed
in the streets.
OF this aross, objectionable, and upcal.ed for at
tack Of Mr. Wood, gentleman, upon defenceless
l..s,a rfsN vii
or its audience, we took notice, believing that ~
was only IN Clearwater with stroIng vagabond
But leaning that the veracy Of the reporter oi the
Coutsr aad En0~rsr had been assacd, and having
our attention drawn to the offensive paragraphs by
Mr. Wood, we sent for the reporter. and, "a the re-
suit Of an investigation, published the following
Tux P.rx TnrarRx -TnE woops AND Mas.
.CoSpurr --On Tuesday our theatrical reporter,
who is always as accurate az he ~ admitted to be
isst EXPIRE sed his regret ,ha, the benefit OF Mrs
After toiIlng IN her professional duties through
a most Inclement winter, all her prospects OF re-
alizng by her benefit something IA addition 70 her
salary, for the support of her family, are uusry
DESTROYED by the engagement OF Mr.. and Mrs.
Wood who performed not only the evenings before
and after her benefit, but on that very night gave
concert at the City Hotel Nor ~ this all. lhs
play OF "Guy Msnnering" was the piece selected
and announced for her benefit, Notwithstanding
which Mr. Wood insists that Il shall be performed
for the benefit OF his wife the evening Prtceolsg z
that OF Mrs. Conduit, and so compes her to take
any piece which may be had for the occasion
In consequence OF tins publication, when Mr
Wood made his appearance, on TUESDAY evening
ne was hissed by the audience, which drew from
him speech, in the course OF which, he had the
hsrdihood 10 declare the remarks alluded 20, un
founded. II certainly is not untrue that Mr. and
Mrs Wood performed on the evening preceding
Mrs. C.s benefit, nor 10 IL untrue that they gave
concert Al the City Hotel last night, the evening o.
Mrs. C.'s benefit, and II our readers VIII look a
the Park advertisement, they will lind that tins
Woods play tonight. So much tor this part o
the allegation.
The next. and only other charge, Is that Gul
Nsnnering I" was the piece selected and announced
for her Mrs C.'s) benefit, Notwithstanding which
Mr. Wood insists that il shall be performed tor
The bepefit Of his wife, the evening preceding tina
of Mrs Conduit's, and so compels her to take any
niece which may be had for the occasion: II thu
reader will refer to our advertising columns 0