The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-12
BOUCICAULT VS.. HART.

Probably there has been no such public I'M crest
excired In regard to the rights OF dramatic au.
thors since MIR. Augustin Day's suits In defence OF
his effects OF "Under the Gaslight," the recent
suit between Mr.. Dion Bouclcaut and the pro-
prletor of the Theatre Comique In regard 70 the
authorship OF ''rhe Shaughraun" and "rhe SKib-
beeah." In this contest will PROBABLY be decided
the rights OF property In brains, and to this end
the literature OF "Ould Ireland" will be ran.
sacked to determine whether Kerry O'Leary,
the Skibbeeah Is Conn, the shaughraun.
or Conn the Shaughraun is Kerry O'Leary. On
this point hinges 'all the law and the prophets"
1t will be remembered that in the recent proceed.
ings before Judge woodruff, the aflidavit OF Mr..
George L. Stout, stage manager OF the Theatre
Comique was presented In which he testified that
IN the play OF spike O'Caaghan." there occurred
Q character OF Kerry O'Leary, which was identi.
cal with the Shaughraun. This play was the
production OF Mr.. Wybert Reeves, an orisi-
nal drama Of Two acts, and was announced
TO be performed upon the stage OF the Royal SUR
roy Theatre, In London, on Saturday, February 7.
1870, nearly four years before Mr.. Boucicault re-
corded the copyright of the "Shaughraun," and
that from this play Mr.. Stout claimed to have
made O condensation and adaptation. under the
title Of the "Skibbeeah." Mr.. Stout also claimed
that the scenes and incidents were almost paral-
lei in spike O'Callaghan" with the "Shaughraun."
ana claimed that the title was vested in him as an
original adapter, ana II any plagiarism was
committed. Mr.. Boucicault as well as himself was
guilty and, as point Of law no party can como
into court OF equity without "cean hands,"
Mr.. Boucicault's complaint must fall.
In order TO receive Mr.. Boucicault's opinion on
this most interesting question, in which rights Of
authors are so vitality Involved, d HERALD re-
porter went to see the distinguished author and
dramatlst at the scene OF ms great triumph az
conversation then ensued:-
KEPoRrER-I wish to OBTAIN some further infor-
MIR. BoUCiCAUL:2I cannot enter into that mat.
ter. 1t Is before the courts, and my counsel alone
is entitled TO zeal With 1t. Any remarks Of mine
REPoRrER-Mr. Hart has come out in many OF
the journals on the question.
Mr. BoucICAULT-Probabiy Mr.. Hart will have
more TO say IN the newspapers than he VIII have
10 say In court. We shall see.
REPORTER-He has stated that you have taken
the "Shaughraun" from an English play called
.PyKe O'Callaghan," written ny MIR. Wybert
MIR. BoUc1cAULr-Fortunately for Mr.. Hart. the
author OF the English play. Mr. Wybert Reeve,
happens accidentally to be IN New YORK at mis-
moment, so his evidence Will assuredly be forth.
coming. Mr.. Hart was quite unaware OF this CO.
incidence when he invoked The name OF this gem
REpoRrER-Does Mr.. Wybert Reeve deny what
MIR. Hart alleges, that the ''Shaughraun" Is taken
from "Pyke O'Calagnan Z"
Mr.. BOUCICAULT-ii you Will attend the court on
Saturday perhaps you Will learn.
REPORTER-1Ou nave maze an amuaVlL Lnau
your play Is an original WORK and that you are not
indebted to any novel or drama .or the plot VI
treatment OF the work
Mr.. BoUCICAULT-.If 1T can be shown that de-
rived the play from any narrative or novel or play.
or any source Whatever but my own invention,
promise you shall withdraw from the suit and
paw all costs incurred.
REpoRTER-Do you not think Mr.. Harris play
was poor sort OF thing ior you to take notice oi
MIR. BODYBUILDING. 1t was the narrow emo 81
the wedge. j. he mad succeeded In playing TINS
piece he would have sold 1t all over the Union.
and then managers of second class theatres would
have played nv piece entire under the title OF
"sklbOeeah." / have for long time suffered
quietly the mendaclous attacks o. the press cnarg.
ing me with taxing my WORKS rom the WORKS
OF other authors. | have not condescended TO
re ply TO these charges as might have done, that
log any source from which l may nave drawn the
slightest assistance at any time. as indeed Is the
usual proceeding IN sucn instances. But out oil
some ago dramas have written more than $50 are
Original; the rest are c0nleSsedly TRANSACTIONS or
adapta IONS Inc false representations lndu'ged
Hart to steal my works, under the pre-.
tence that they are not my works. nave Deen
waiting quietly tor some time until could seize
one OF these Offenders IN the act. nave caught
good one (Mr. Hart) with his nand IN my PACKET,
ana as Conn makes the delinquent In similar az.
Hart TO the tribunal wnere ne shall expiate his
Onence, with this difference-that Conn let MS
captive ''slp out OF his pocket" oouDt II Mr..
Hart will be equally fortunate.
Mr. Boucicaut was mere called TO go on the
stage and so ended our interview.
the reporter learned also, from another source,
that Mr.. Wybert Reeve, whose professional en-.
Ragements Will preclude mis- being IN court on
Saturday, has made atiidavit entirely exonerat.
ing Mr.. Bouclcaut from the charge OF plagiarism.