The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-12
A THEATRICAL IMBROGLIO.
HOW DION BoUCICAULT DEFEATED PLOT AND
ESCAPED ANNOYANCE.

HOW DION BoUCICAULT DEFEATED PLOT AND
ESCAPED ANNOYANCE.
Last Tuesday young lawyer standing at the desk of
the Superior Court Chambers ascerained that an order
Of arrest had been granted against Mr. Dion Boucicau
at the suit Of Robert McWade, q charge Of libel
which given below The attorney saw by the looks of
the applicant for the order that mischief was meant
and Immediately told Mr.. Boucicauts counsel Mr. A.
Oakley Hall, of what had TRANSFERRED The counsellor
in question, knowing that Mr.. Boucicault had
been four months in the city after tho
publication Of the alleged libel without any
action being taken upon IT. concluded that the
arrest of that gentleman upon the of his going
Europe malicious, and determined to thwart 1.-THE
as it evidently the plaintiffs intention for
the Sheriff to lodge Mr. Boucicault in Ludlow Street
Jail Under advice of his counsel Mr. Boucicaut left
New York for Jersey City, TO escape annoyance
but instructed Mr. Hall out of respect to the Court 70
Immediately appear and defend the suit and Justify L.
Mr. Hall advised him further to be ready voluntarily
tender bond lest it should be said he absconding
HIRING
Yesterday morning the plaintiffs counsel at an ex
pense Of S25 hired tugboat TO board the Bothnia in
the bay but upon learning that the Bothna would leave
her dock at rapid rate and could not be caught by the
tugboat he concluded not to send his boat in pur.
suit but to let the Deputy Sheriff holding the order Of
arrest go to the Cunard dock and ''interview'' Mr.
Boucicault there This done, and Mr. BouclcauIt
found surrounded by friends; the Deputy
Sheriff made attempt to him, for such an act
would have been illegal Of being in another
State AcGonigle, the Deputy Sheriff, politely
informed MI bOuccault Of the papers he
held and showed them; whereupon NH
Boucicaut informed him Of his previous determination
to make suitable appearance and OF respect to the
Court and to prevent any suspicion Of attempting TO
eude Its process he willing 10 give bail Mr. John
A. Penard of No. 20 East Fifteenth street. who had
gone to see Mr.. Bouccault Off board and plain.
TINS attorney agreed TO take him and John Mccullough
as bondsmen in the amount requred-Sl, 0O0 In con,
versation with HERALD reporter his counsel said that
the whole affair Is malicious farce for Mr. Boucicault
is a naturaized American citizen, property 10
large extent in this city and It was publicly known that
he was to return TO New York next September
THE COMPLAINT.
The complaint upon which this order was granted sets
forth the following Gacts:-
That the plaintiff was at the time Of the mentioned
grievances, engaged in the business Of dramatic author
actor and theatrical delineator, and was also the
Rip Van Wrinkle; Or The. sleep Of Twenty Years."
great value Defendant was also at the same time
dramatic author claiming to have composed the shaugh
called skbbeeah" which claimed BY Boucicaut to BE-
latter Mr. Boucceut a , 80 0w h oy .he
Court against Hart. An injunction granted against
his drama Of The ski6bess4" bis theatre That
lsth DAY o. February 1879 the defendant Boucicaut
several and published the New York daily and
issue and determined in the Superior Court maliciously
own name and signature in the NEW YORK HERALD fol-
BoUc1oAu1r AGAINST HART
To THE EDITOR or THE HERALD:-
report has been ndu;tousy circulated that the Judge
In my case against Joshua Hart granted something
called Pecai nignetonI There was nothing special
PENDANT with my stolen property on his person The Judge
aso goods found IN me poekes Of 0R me
because made no claim on that he triumphs
right and dSnisses the defendants plea that my play
not original The bond given by me is the usual security
Junction There nothing special about the whole affair
a. harts Theatre and will press my suit against him for
Sa@Hss as S a q ss9 Meanwhile beg 80 dPw a.
when Is very special IN the interest OF every respectable
literature Of the country have resolved to pursue and
terminate these mpudent pirates and audacous thieves
They infested the Of Mr. Joseph Jefferson and
ade I 70 the eases Robert
rather ana supported by some o the press In
NEW YORK, Feb. IT, 1875
The complaint further goes on TO state that the de-
PENDANT Bouccault thereby intended and caused it 70
be believed by all readers Of the HERALD that plaintiff
had been guilty Of plagiarism and had wrongfuy ap-
propriated 10 his own the play Of Grip Van Winen
that plaintiff had been greatly injured by this pubca-
ton dramatic author, and that the value Of his
play had been decreased 70 the amount Of $40 O00 and
judgment is asked for this sum
Annexed to the complaint the affidavit Of Mr. Nc
Wade who states that he resident the city OF Buff
falo and setting forth all the points alleged in the
complaint He cites the fact Of Mr.. Bouccault's In
tended departure for London 10 fiji an engagement as
ground for the Issuing Of the order Of arrest This a
davit concludes with paragraph from the HERALD Of
August g. bearing upon this departure, folows:-
H. ..I sop9s s an e %s.9 arrived Il the Hoffman
land on Wednesday in company with SIR Dion Boueiesu
and Mr. John Mccullough.
Mr. T. Allston Brown also makes an AFFIDAVIT that his
attention called TO the letter In the HERALD IN Feb.
ruary and that ho Is well acquainted with Nh Rob
ert McWade Deponent alleges that when he read this
article he knew the person alluded 70 Robert Nc
wade" intended for and referred Robert McWado
the plaintiff In the present action
DEFENCE
On behalf OF defendant his counsel stated that an
swer Will be put in justifying the libel and II the de-
PENDANT dare bring his IN court will prove that Nc.
wade's version Of Grip Van Wnkle is distinct series
of purloinings Of Mr.. Boucicaups ''situatons" and
business, and also Mr. Joseph Jonersons well known
rendering Of that character
RAISE THE TRACKS.