New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-01
UNION SQUARE THEATRE TROUBLE.
MR. vERNAM MAKES OBJECTIONS NOW I

THE PROPRIETOR OF THE MORTON HOUSE ASKS
FOR AN INJUNCTION AGAINST MIR. PALMER
AND MR.. HILL.
The difficulties connected with the rebuilding Of
the Union Square Theatre do not seem to have been
even now entirely overcome, although the WORK Is
being hurried forward rapidly as possible Cnarles
E. Vernam, the lessee of the Morton House, is the
latest opponent and the attitude which he has as
slmed is the more remarkable as his friendship with
Charles p Palmer, one of the heirs Of the Courands
Palmer estate to which both the Morton House and
the Union Square Theatre belong, and with Manager
j. NJ Hill understood TO be close
Mr. Vernam through his attorney, ex-Judge Often
hoefer has served Charles L. Palmer and his sister,
Mary A. Draper the surviving children of Courtands
Palmer sr to appear in Supreme Court, Chambers,
to- morrow and show cause why an Injunction should
not be granted restraining the further prosecution OF
the work the Ines now planned. Mr. FernAms
complaint which is duly sworn to, sets forth that no
leased the Morton House at rental OF $4,000 year
which was guaranteed by White, Hentz Co. Tho
lease will not expire till May, 1891. In May last.
when It was ascertaned what the requirements OF thu
Build ngs Bureau would be In the reconstruction OK
the burned theatre, Mr.. Vernam obtained reducton
of $4,000 in tho annual rental in consideration OF
tho fact that rooms, chiefly used as serv-
ants bedrooms, over the gallery Of the old theatre
would not be allowed to DO rebuilt also that he should
give up the old Morton House office to DO thrown into
the lobby OF the theatre and four rooms on the nav
and second floors which would be red to anora
space for additional exits from the theatre. These,
It Is claimed, the alterations agreed 10, DUE
Mr. Vernam complains that two large brick piers have
been erected In his Kitchen that wall has been
built through his bakery and part of the servants
bedrooms, and that the engineers room, containing
the furnace and boilers heating tho hotel has been
cut of and the contents made useless. Besides these
damages in the basement it will be necessary TO ates
a passageway in the Morton House on the tourteenh-
st. front and TO make additional exit through MS
present Office in Fourteenth-st Most serious OF al
his statement that one side wall OF the theatre has
been built out SO TO leave only passaseway Oh
four feet between and the wall of the hotel and inss
as the Buildings Bureau require five feet 1t Is INTENDED
TO set back the hotel wall for the necessary distance
Damages amounting to ZOO arc alleged 10 ha'e
been already sustained and IL IS set forth that u no
present plans are pcrsevered In the damage VIA
be so entire and rreparabe as to be incaicuiao anu
that, therefore, injunction Is asked
Mr. Palmer said yesterday that he would DC pw
pared to mako q statement after he had consulted DIS
lawyer George H. Forster, president OF the BoAIa VI
Aldermen Mr.. Hill said that he had seen an ssigps
Iourtandt Palmer estate in which the former ascses
to give every fac lily for such alterations as
be needed to conform with the requirements Oh NV
buildings Bureau. Mr.. Verpam had been called ava
by the illness Of his mother, and was not d. wv
Morton House.