New-York tribune., 1885-03-01
OT1LIFTCTIONS or 4 LADY CHORISTER
MISS vILLER PRoNoUNCED INcoMrErrSr-suING
FOR HER RIGHTS.

MISS yILLER PRONOUNCED NOTWITHSTANDING
FOR HER RIGHTS.
suit brought yesterday By Miss Elise Nllcr
before Civil Justice Frederick q. Gedney. III tho
Eighth District Court against Michael Il. Lcayiit,
of the Adamcss Ed' n company. calledout great
deal of expert testimony as 10 the distinction
between a chorister and coryphee and the
respective duties of each Miss VIllcr Is one OF
seven young women imported by Mr. Lcavitt from
England. who were engaged under "A written con
tract for twenty weeks at r2O a week. After play
ing here for three weeks, Miss Niier was discharged
for incompctcncy; but she refused 10 tear up her
contract and accept free passage back to London
The written contract though bearing the solemn,
oicial-lookng. sXpcnny stamp OF Somerset House.
was loosely drawn and tie defence claimed that {
wa. in any legally imperative here because II
had not been rised by the American Consul. The
leading the subject IN that of Harry Sargent
against Madam Nodjeska. IN which the Master of
the Rolls had decided that the agreement between
the parties could not be received IN English
court because n failed 20 bear the rise of the British
Consul at New-York. Justice Gedney promised 10
give this point careful cstigatiOn but admitted
the instrument for the present, and the trial was
then fought ont mainly on the question whether
the plaintIii was or was not equal to her proics-
sional duties.
Miss Viller said she had been on the stage for five
years, and had played at the Gacty and Drury
Lane theatres and at the Theatre Royal, Aldcrshot
She knew the difference between a chOrisier and
coryphec; corypheo danced, but did not sing.
while a chOrister sang when necessary and danced a
little also. She could read music. but would not
swear that. she could sing through a part from
"Ovette" or Patience" at sight from the scorr
At this point her counsel Indignantly asked his
cross Examining adversary whether Sir. Lcavitt
expected 10 hire a Patti Mt S20a week, and both
lawyers wasted much valuable time ia discussing
this and other irrelevant matter
Can you pose 7" at last resumed the counsel and
for tho first time the plaintiff almost lost her
temper. &" "I-can-pOsc." replied she with an en-
phass that elected general laughter. Miss yillcr
proceeded to say that she had really been dis.
charged because she had refused to go IN front of
the .hOuse and sell distribute programmes and
usher people TO their seats. The stage manager
explained to her that he coudlnot ask the American
ladies 10 do this. because they had too many friends
in the audience, but as She was stranger IL would
not matter. She had refused to submit to what she
considered degradation.
1he.dcpOsitOns of Mr.. Lcavitt. Nellie Arnoldi and
Belle Danvers were read in behalf O the defence
Mr.. Leavitt said that Miss Viller by her faulty
singing and "stupid actions" did n good deal 10
spoil the piece. and Misses ArnOldi and Danvcrs
agreed that she could neither sing nor dance i'm
time George Millbank. Mr.. Leavitt's agent. tcs-
titled that she was the " most totally incompcientp
person as a chorister he had seen He admitted
on crosse examination. however that II n chorister
was extraordinarily fnoooking with n good
voice apt and ready" il was barely possible but
hardly" that neYperi icLce in the reading of music
might be overlooked by the management
Justice Gedney took the papers and reserved his
1ecisinn