The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-25
THEATRICAL TRIBULATIONS.

Fechter's Role OF Theatrical Manager
and Proprietor-H1s Fourteenth Street
Theatre Enterprise Failure-Great Ex-
pectations eliminating In Great
Fizzle-Interesting Proceedings In the
Courts-A Bill for Damages that Takes
Down any Theatrical Bill.
The advent OF Charles Fechter, the actor in this
country and the enthusiastic reception that
greeted his appearance. not alone the theatrical
stage in this city, but ct all the leading theatres In
the principal cities Of the United States comprises
one Of the most familiar as well as peasantest
episodes Of modern theatrical gossip. His fame
had preceded him. and everybody went to
see the actor whom Charles Dickens had
pronounced the greatest actor OF the
times. Some may have been disappointed and
learned to distrust Dickens as theatrical critic,
but Mr.. Fechter could hardly have been disap-
pointed, as he gathered In the rich harvest Of
greenbacks browning his venture in the New
World. He selected as his bankers Duncan, Sher-
man Co., the well-known bankers Of this city.
Everything went on smilingly-swimmingly Mr..
Fechter's star was In the ascendant
Mr.. FIGHTERS BANK ACCOUNT
"You have some seventy thousand dollars on de-
post post, Mr. sherman remarked one day to Mr..
81 hope to make It great deal more" rejoined
What are you going to DO with your money!"
when 1t might be made to bring you In very hand.
'.well, what would You suggest doing with 1t ?"
"Buy and run theatre on your own account
MR. PECHTER BUYS THEATRE,
Mr.. Sherman at the time of this conversation
owned the French Theatre on Fourteenth street.
Mr.. Fechter bought the theatre OF him. He gave
1t new christening-the Lyceum. For long
time the public anxously waited for It's reopening
and from the printed announcement 1t was ex-
n the theatrical line In the ctya p na5h
and an expectation that might have been full
appointed in the realization Of bis expectations.
And now we come to the sequel OF the story-we
might almost say sad story-as just developed in
Messrs. Hall and Blsndy, with the usual lawyer.
like procliyity for long drawn out verbiage, have
protracted his complaint to some dozen or SO
pages Of closely written foolscap. This complaint,
It should be stated, in the hrst place. is in an
action brought by Mr.. Fechter against Mr.. Sher-
man for damages for alleged non-fulnllment OF
contract This contract is embodied in the COM
plaint and, In Its opening, develops the
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
on which IL was based. BY this contract, made on
July Is, 1871, Mr.. sherman agreed, as alleged, to
the latter agreeing to assume mortgages for
$9o,ooO the property and pay the balance in two
ment 10 re made July s. isss, and the last pay pay
ment July 25, 1874. This contract was modified
afterwards, FIRST on June s. 1872, and next on octo-
Der Il, 1872. Under the first modification Mr..
sherman agreed to execute and deliver to Mr..
Fechter certain further mortgages for securing
had then expended IN repairs aud alterations OF
the theatre. In the next modification it was
stipulated that Mr.. Sherman should put the theatre
In complete running order by the 25th OF last No.
vember. Mr.. Fechter was to run IL az manager and
proprietor, but Mr.. Sherman was to appoint the
treasurer and the gross receipts were to be depos
tied with Duncan, Sherman a Co., and oil the paw.
ments OF salaries and other running expenses TO
be made on checks countersigned by the treasurer
and Mr.. Fechter. From these gross receipts Mr.
Fechter was to be paid $1,000 a month
for his personal use. 0ne-third or the
net profits were to be kept for extra
ordinary expenses, such as buying new plays
and the like. The remaining two thirds OF the net
profits were to go toward paying Mr.. Sherman for
his advances In fitting up the theatre. The season
was to continue from November rs, 1872 to July rs,
1873, and after that date the title deeds were TO
pass to Mr.. Fechter as purchaser. One OF the
Fechter should play himself throughout the sea-
son. The
GREAT DRAWBACK
TO all this was, as Mr.. Fechter AYERS, that while
nc iulnled all his portion OF the agreement Mr..
sherman utterly failed to carry out his portion OF
tne contract. lie not only expended nearly all his
money IN lurtherance o. the project, but gave to 1t
al ms time and the benefit OF his professional ex.
pellence extending over q period, as he says, OF
twenty years. Instead OF the theatre being In run
nm nng oIueI AT the time agreed upon Mr.. Fechter,
tne last and unkindest cut OF ALL was finally pre-.
vented rom entering the building.
MN. fECHTERS CLAIM OF DAMAGES.
Inc pupnc nave lot long time been aware OF the
iauuIe Oi .hs grand theatrical project but only
lew nave known the reason of the failure az de-
scriDed above. Mr.. Fechter, however az his pres-
ent proceedings show, was not going TO lei the
matter quietly drop here. and hence his amt for