, 1881-01-16

STEELE 1IACHATE'S TROUBLES.
Steele Mackuye, the manager Of the Madison
Square Theatre, anu the Rev. Mallorys, proprie-
1ors OF the house, are in the courts alr. Mnc-
kaye's brains and the Rev. Alalorys' money
gave tho house within Il year National rcputa-
ttou. Now that the popularity Of the house has
been assured tho Nallorys, according to Mr..
Nackayc, want to turn him out and manage tho
theatre themselves. Mr., Mackaye, before the
thentre wns built, signed contract with the
Ma!orys In effect this was that Mr.. Mnckayc's
entire services US author. actor, manager, or d.
rector the stentire product of his intellectual
and physical lnbor and Skill with tho copy
rights of his plays and nny patents that he OBJ
tninea. should be devoted to the service
Of Marshall e. Mallory for tea years
from July !, 1870, with privilege
of, renewel ooo in &C, sons'aesatton OF l. ycari;
its amounted to twice the nulount, With inter-
est. expended by Mr.. Mallory. SIR. Mackaye was
to receive quarter, part Of tie net profits IN
kaye states in his complaint that he transferred
to Mr. Mallory the copyright or q lnzet kirkc :"
and the letters patent OF the double stage. In
May, ,Ir. M,cknye's salary was raised to sl50
weekly, but there wAs difficulty about obtainng
an accounting OF receipts from performances Ill
ard out of tho city. Mr.. Mac'saye states IN bis
complaint that the accounting offered Dec. he
believes 10 be fictitious: that since thar time he
has received only $l0o weekly, that tie .nnnase-
tucut h;lsl'ecn arbitrarily utkcn out OF his hands:
that prices have been changed at the box-otlice.
ard the Rev. George II. Mallory has been
brought into the business to his detri:ncnt lie
therefore asks tnut the contract be rescindcd
and his property restored. ...
Mr. Steele Muck;ye uubosp1ued himself to
Tfib,sHs reporter the other day. Speaking or his
coutract carefully, bear Ill mind al! the circu,n-
stances, and then say whether this ss:ss no: been
IL deliberate plan on the part Ut colt-blt,oded
sche,ners to defra,ld myself. my wife, and my
children of the work OF my own bruins, and then
drive NE out regardless Of what might become
OF me. l acknowledge that was Il fool to have
IL tclusIon. l huh met these men i'll a pleasant
Why. Not being man OF business nor u trick
ster. and being naturally inclined to trus. those
with whom am brought in Contact, | Ind 10
suspicion Of anything undc1hn!1d only saw
an opportunity to put my s!ewa into practice, to
introduce certain chnnses thaS believed would
myself personally familiar with every detail,
mechanical and otherwise, pertaining to the
sture 1t had been tile study Of My life. The
Mniorys put the whole thing on Il footing Of NUT
ual confidence. They sud they rcposed IL trust
In me us they did not wish 10 be known, and
told no one of the contract. They explained
that everything would be satisfactory. and that
the foruialitics OF the contr7,ct were mere ulat-
ters Of form to secure themselves. Us they did
noe know me we'll.
II lid everything in mans power for the
theusre. / discharged the duties Of advertising
agent and even cAli-boy duties that no other
manager would stoop to, III my zeal for success.
And d splendid success. was attained both in the
thcurro here and by the travelling companies.
Thousands and thousands Ut dollars were I1ladc
for tile Maorys. and the enterprise was firmly
established But profit and little credit were
given to me. Then found tho Mallorys cOtn-
Ing to tho front aud uSurptng the management
Instead Of wishing to renluin unknown. AS they
hud profcsscd. WIS forced to endure daily In
dignliies, even to having my mime struck of
the ,luvcrtIsemeuts,-the 1nnst migrant insuir
that could be offered a manager. They changed
prices ut the box-otiice, dcfrAutling the Dnhiic,
and constantly intcrfercd, putting u1e In Il false
position hy people at the theatre are ladies
and gentlemen, and mean them to be treated
MS such. They nre attached tn me, but the NAL
lorys have cndcavored tn make them believe that
they were the masters Of tho company. All
contrncts have been in my lsIlnc. and | have
the Ma!lorys have done- This persecution at
the theatre WAS planned with L view to force me
to brenk the contract. drive me nut, nnd allow
them u seize all the results ut INF wor..- I
could get no ACCOUNT rendered in spite Ut the
1,rolits that were accru!Eg until some figures
were handed me on Uec- !. There is much that
must be told III the courts, aud tile deliberate.
i;,iQui;y OF these men will become evident
They can only defend themselves by an attempt
scrutiny OF the world. l did 4 foolish thing for
The sako of carrying cut my ideals. have OBJ
ta.1.ed ~ per cent and - per cent royalty
night Mt Wntlack S. aud ~ per cent Mt the Fifth
Avenue, Yet siHned that contract"
understand that the Rev. Dr. Mallory had
no connection with this natter" said the re-
porter
truth said Mr.. Nnckaye. - He was the prime
mover End his brother but tho cat's-paw.'