The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-14
The Richmond Theatre and Rtstorf.
NV YORK, January 8, 1851.


To the Editors Of the Richmond Dispatch:
1t seems due to the public of Richmond
that some public explanation Of the R'stor'
| imbroglio should be made and being IN
possession of all the facts, have thought
that could do nothing more acceptable
TO your readers than to make plain state
ment Of the facts:
The contract of Duffield & Waldron with
Grau was, that the latter should play MS
tori in Richmond on the nights OF Z4th
and 25th of December last, for which ne
was to receive the sum OF S4,OOO ana
travelling expenses, payable as follows {:
$500 on the signing of the contract, s2,O0O
on the 18th, $500 on the 2lst, and the re-
naming $1,000 on the debat Of the COM
pauy. Their previous heavy losses in the
theatre having left Duffield & Waldron no
means Of meeting these engagements, eA-
cept from the sale Of tickets for the his.
tori nights, this was certainl y an imprudent
contract to make, as Mr.. Dufheld hifnseh
thought, and his opinion was against enter
ing into it at all. 1t was made, however,
and the first $500 was paid to Grau irom
funds realized from the sale OF tickets.
The 1000 due on the 18th was not paid,
as the funds had not been realized. An
agent was dispatched to Philadelphia 10
confer with Grau and urge upon HIM 10
come to Richmond, notwithstanding tbls
lapse. and the offer was even made MN 10
surrender him the theatre entirely, so that
faith might be kept with the public. Grau,
however, was obdurate, and would listen
IN nothing except "the moniSh in mine
hands be fore be left Philadelphia.
So far as Mr.. DuAield is concerned, after
| il was finally ascertained that Ristori
| would not come to Richmond, everything
was done that could be done TO have the
money refunded to those who had pur-
chased tickets. He could not do much, as
not q dollar Of it had ever passed into his
hands @! been for a moment under his
control, Waldron assuming and exercising
exclusive control of the funds. But Mr..
| Dnlield endeav0red 1t least to save the
$500 paid to Grau, and a gentleman OF
Richmond Mr.. MERELY kindly under
took to achieve that result, but, so far as 1
am aware, without success.
Mr.. Dutteld had been pccuniarily ruined
by his occupancy Of the Richmond Thea
tire, and nothing was left him but to cast
about for the means of retrieving his for
tunes. As a means to this end, it was pro-
posed to him by gentleman then in Rich
mond as correspondent Of New York
paper to open Virginia Hall as vande-
vile theatre, and at that gentleman's re-
pcated solicitations he came with him to
New York to secure q company. Arriving
here, however, it was found that the proper
kind OF company was not obtainable,
and another opportunity to the same end
being had in the vicinity Of this city, Mr..
Dutfeld determined to remain here.
All this reads somewhat as a defence of
Mr.. Duilield, and il is; nor does any one
deserve it more. During his long career
as a manager he has done no act inconsist-
ent with the character of an honest man
and gentleman. He has at times been
unfortunate in business, but among those
fully cognizant Of the facts the shadow of
dishonest act never rested upon his name.
A native of Virginia, he is naturally much
troubled by the position in which he has
been placed before the people Of Rich
mond by adverse circumstances, aided by
the indlscrction ito call it by no harsher
nance OF Waldron. QUONDAM.