River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-01-05
EMMA ABBOTT,S SUIT.
Legal Proceedings Against John Ey-
ans, the Colorado Millionaire, for the
ScandaiOus Use OF Her Name.
philadeinbia press


Philadelphia Press.
Eugene L. Wetherill, the husband OF
Miss Emma Abbott, the favorite prima
donna. who is now fulfilling an engage
ment at the Chestnut street Opera
house, has taken the initiatorv steps,
through his attorneys, Dunning, Edsill,
Hart & Fowler, of New York, toward
bringing suit for 100000 damages
against John Evans, wealthy resident
of Denver, Col, for the scandalous use
of his Mr.. Wetherill's) wife's name on
the occasion of her appearance in that
city in September last. The circum-
stances of the affair are of somewhat
complicated character, but, as far as
can be learned, are substantially as
follows: Some time since Evans
brought suit against Rothacker &
Field, proprietors of the Denver Tri6-
at1ae, for defamation of character caused
by the publication of certain articles
rejecting upon his honesty and integ-
rity. The institution of the suit was
followed by various attacks upon Ev-
ans through the columns of the paper.
On the occasion of Miss Abbott's ell
gagement in Denver, in the early part
of September, the subjoined paragraph
appeared in the Tribune.
Deacon John Evans will be at the
opera tonight, front row parquet, with
a double-barrel marine glass. He
wouldn't miss the bed-chamber scene
in Fra Diavolo' for the profit of a
dozen libel suits, the sly red rooster"
On the following day another article
~ q 81 M = a oh or l.
the additional information that Deacon
John Evans was seen at the opera on
the preceding night intensely interested
in the bedchamber scene.
Evans thereupon instituted proceed
ings agaist Rothacker & Field for GRIM
inal libel, and the grand jury of Den
yer found true bills of indictment
against them. The first bill does not
mention Miss Abbott's name, but
merely alludes to her as "a singer"
The second bill, however, gives her
name, and adds, that in i'm personating
a character in the bedchamber scene
of the opera of ERA Diavola," she
"did indecently disrobe herself" Roth
acker & Field were required to give
bonds in the sum of $1,000 each, the
bondsmen being United States Senators
Hill and Teller, ex-Gov. Routt and ex-
Gov. Tabor.
After leaving Denver, Mr.. Wetherill
was informed by some of his friends in
Colorado of the scandalous use of his
wife's name, and was urged by them
to institute legal proceedings against
the responsible persons. He immedi-
ately wrote to Denver, requesting copies
of the Indictment, which he received
in few days.
II regret this thing very much, :"
remarked Mr.. Wetherill last evening to
Press reporter, con account of my
wife. Those who have ever seen her
play in Fra Diavolo' know full well
that there is nothing immodest or even
suggestive in her acting or appearance.
/ have consulted with Dunning, Edsill,
Hart & Fowler, of New York, my law
yers, and the result is that / shall bring
suit for 100000 damages against
Evans for the defamatory use of nv
wife's name. We intend to bring
him to New York to see the whole
thing through. The whole matter is
the outcome of libel suit brought by
Evans against the proprietors of the
Denver Tribune for the publication of
an article accusing Evans of having
robbed people out of large sums of
money by means of q railroad scheme.
After the suit was entered the proprie-
tors of the Tribune took occasion to as
sail Evans through its columns, and
when my wife appeared in Denver two
paragraphs appeared, involving the
name of Evans in an indicate way.
Personally, don't believe Evans was
at the opera. He is very wealthy
worth probably 100000 or Sc, 100000
and is a protested Christian. | in
tend to sue Evans because, as the pros
ecuting witness against the Denver
Tribune, he made a statement which
furnished the basis of the two indict-
ments, therefore he alone is RESPONSE
BILE for the language and names used
in them. Although innocently involved
in this scandalous affair, my wife has
| intend to make Evans pay for it."
"Oh, my! !" exclaimed Miss Abbott,
with deep sigh, upon being told by
the reporter that the matter was going
the rounds of the press. "Oh just to
think of it." she continued, sinking
down upon a sofa in the parlor of the
Continental hotel, with large tear
drops trickling down her cheeks.
" Will never have any peace? This
is scandalous." Here the little singer
evinced deep emotion and sought to
wipe away the tears which were flowing
thick and fast. 1t seems to me that
] am destined to be forever in hot wa
ter. There is nothing suggestive in :he
bed chamber scene in Fra Diavolo.' I
suppose it could be made so but /
have always avoided anything of the
kind. When / retire in that scene |
wear the very same dress that / wear
all through the opera, the only differ
ence being that | remove the head
dress and the little silk overskirt, which
caves me in white dress with over
sleeves and cut square at the neck. 1t
is literally impossible to detect any
thing immodest or suggestive in that
costume. From infancy my record
has been OF such a character that |
would not object to its publication in
every newspaper in the world. Yet,
with all that, my name is brought up in
this scandalous connection. Oh it is
too much to bear. | heard of this
matter when was in Denver, but sup
posed that it would end right there
where it started, but, instead, it is 60
ing all over the country. / have taken
no legal steps in the matter. l have
no time to dip in law, and if / had, !
know nothing of such matters IF any
action is taken my husband will attend
to it."