The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-29
r. r. BARyUM SUED FOR LIBEL.
An Insight into the Show Bu.iness-Bitter
Fight of Rival Circuses.

cipal plaintifrs are George W. De Haven and r.
T. j. Miles. we'll known show managers. Con-
cerned with Barnum as defendants are W. c.
Coup OF the New York AQUARIUM. Major Bun
nell NJ the Bowery Museum. and others. The
suit is Il continuation Of fight that was begun
in the summer of 1875. when the two parties
were running rival circuses The circus bust
moss had then taken a somewhat now form
Barnum's Hippodrome in New York had made
n hit during the previous winter with its char
lot and other races and. IL conjunction with
the rest OF the defendants. he started travelling
show of the same kind. This was a very ex-
tensve enterprise. sweeping through the coun-
try with great amount OF hurrah and success
II was known IA Barnum's Universal Exhibit
tion and 1Iippodromc. At the same time the
plaintiffs seeking to take advantage Of the
changed drift in the business. organized tho
Great American Racing Association and Hin
podromr. With that show they started out with
the intention OF getting ahead OF Bqrnum. and
going over exactly the same route that he had
chosen. Or course, the result Of such scheme
successfully carried out would be To get much
of the benefit of Barnums preliminary advcr-
Using gather in the spare cash OF the people.
and leave only poor business for the Barnum
show rs il came trailing after. The plan worked
well for several weeks.
Barnum IL one Of the most energetic of show
men, and his lieutenants are usually tmburd
with his spirit. He Immediately sent forward
agents with vast quantity of hnndbills con-
tanning n denunciation ofthe American kacng
Association as "A fraudulent and worthless ini-
ta,ion OF his exposition. Whenever the Racing
Association made n street parade Barnums
rlcn were there TO distribute the handbills tn
the spectators. Abusive advertising. was done
in the newspapers and from the far West across
the country into New York State the running
fight was kept up. The upshot was that the De
Haven and Miles concern broke up in bank
ruptrv. Tho plaintiffs claim that the ruin was
caused Ivy the defendants. and tho suit is Tor
$50 900 damages.
some Of IN" testimony shows the workings Of
the circus business, The following is from the
examination yesterday Of Mr.. Miles:
not yss sS at % IN y Ts{ sy. Pc wa . en-
Nuh tlc new property, the harness &c added it was
l.i, not fac, hat notes were ,iyen tSMr Gibbons
this Nncril A-No SIR only tor the entire amount ol
the Dellavcn wopcriy -,... 49,. .,,,.
Of S'Dtnlf A--rhe' were no, given by me
GLOW much Wa that show in debt when It len can
o-wasit not IN debt over scoco'
Nr Throon said he proposed TO show the bankruptcy
na S ama 81 dd me- a he SM lux nat %
shoM Log moncy rom H. day It eommenc,d e9'ncs.
tcliee., bccau,e T. could not run any LONGER
Wtnc..-out.,dc Of the io,cs iutcrchangcd between
The rarues. don't suppose ;hc indebtedness was over
pa yea no, .sna home or come 9gae tsge";'dly to
pa ygu not have tour week. Of smo:' npinierrgpt
ts .h"wS' Es so) or si Gn Il ,ar,, srret n
great IN others BY outside eNtcnscs" tul.an PRINT
IN. and adycrusins IN ar-, towns sc St Lou, the All
.q-aisq d.l the SHOW clc't'' AIN osden.ourg on
,Rg.direyi examination BY Nj Lossn-Q Was that
Stb,,ln'., The Extra =. ~ ,hst n c., T., ,oi M.
Alt va. never attached until u wa attached
30 Albany That was done al my instance 90 secure Mr
about si4Sn I wan.ci To see lin .ecur,l TITO he
tie, attmtcd 10 take cgai proc,e,ng. l,. ticir noe.
mr. dd any the outside creditors Of the show take any
John D. Davis being sworn and examined by
Mr.. Logan. testified that he WIS a theatrical
Sgeni. and while IN the employ OF Mr. Miles he
had served W. {. Coup with summons in the
present action. Upon receiving the summons
Mr.. Coup said 10 n third party. l l"v We got me
| now. This j. for breaking up that thi.ving
Karing Association and sunn,s. ihrv want ~
break us NJ now Tn" witness tried To- find
Bennell and Costello. but. cond not tnd them.
George W Morris testified that he was circus
agent. and added0
In re ,ariGd WIN, The Rsea; A'.ee aon rem en-
SHOW long a. II lived Mot vii, the frst oppo,ton At
Mdunrpo- Met Mr. Carer Ceuricr. VINO was d.
him 70 Ierr, auis ln ils there received several raok.
ts greater portion them a. he 'ad ior the purpose q
.dodsins .ur processlon-ihat T. throwing The small
also had Autograph pictures Vi Bnrnum aud put them
s Iss 1ssn Ba1a aTi GRAD
show Met Courier aiierwari at = Lou. and the
N Chicrgo Detroit ami Toledo Sever met Counter afer
AID SS W had s .ons ' ron 1 ,db 6n n
gs IN Chicago Re eusaud won't WIKI The Barnum pariy
hatins received AN ur,ru more liberal salary sfw him
distributing programme. the Bsruuu iaf,, Iii buI
sramme.. 4c CourLer travelled on "a pas issued ior
D 1G SnS sy r ' o. s" ri he aSyn,
nor that YOU have on ~. matter derived from partss
WHO claim 10 be agents " harnum' A-ys,.. III,
Y -lnd YOU ever have any COnvtrsauuu with Mr. Coup
Or Mr. kNnnrli Or Mr. Hurdf A No -ir
BS1na D ',s oS n i mex '''u' challenges To
Tie Court admitted The testimony
mat at tie sane iu- ,ou ~ iv,e handbi.. aid en-
! = uiI Ku 4
winch YOU we're connected was putting out clruars.
Know wi '1 NUM- ''s' never ''' - '1' as
Mr. Shay read the deposition Of William II.
ShOvy. agent for the sale Of Reserved seats for
the RlclnS Assofaton. lie dcposed that he
tractor and chei press agent for 7 T Barnum
heard him say that he WAS authorized 10 spend
$1,000 70 break down the Racing Association.
! and $4,000 more II necessary.
GrO. scott testified:
In III, ws, in the sgploy Of Rarnqp a: I'm
Show atcleyelani There We're twelve men IN all n.
rased a. b posters saw all the posters issued refer.
thousand were distributed Tor each town werr 10
he disirbnieI broI. NE show arrived and some when
itsru,rd We had 80 many portraits OF Mr. Barnun 70
| he d,tubuci with the rest OF The Autographs. We
the mos, OF ms billing was Zone Barnuns SHOW wa. N
tie Ea.t and ~ Canada When ~as ia company with
ION, iroa Mr. COUP H. aseG @ S 'f Gad seem he
'irAt Au~ncAn hacihi Association ana Sid / had
asked how The show lookoi. ana what toy hai ana
made very nice al cafatoc in the nur lie a.ked me
nov ois Thought TIE, would last and sand had re-
mtkyi n,'or, ivy would n.t last more ian wceks
-li ." -l'" A.r iN,i urtous ahlui iius Sac show
"A . s '' H. r ,,nt II H. asain amt we went p
] INSTRUCTIONS where togo AZ That time dd not know
uc money he ,ail want You 10 w,,rs ,u,t a, t,oa
Iou were wnrSin- or Your own benefit, anc give the
A Feninn's Death IIn.tcned nv Pri.on Tr.at