New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-03

"'AuEh WANTS UNPAlD oALAhlEo
AND DEPUTY SHERIFF TAKES CHARGE
OF THE WEST END THEATRES1
RICHLY FURNISHED OFFICES
MANY PEOPLE WILL REGRET
THEIR ACQUAINTANCE
WITH THE BOLD
swINDLER
One Of the most remarkable and brilliantly
lridescent bubbles that ever foatcd in the
theatrical atmosphere was efectuolly pricl1ed
yesterday morning when Deputy Sheriff James
Carraher entered the gorgeousy ftted-up offices
OF the West End Theatre Harlem, at No. 81 West
Iwenty-third-st., and levied upon all their con-
tents to satisfy writ for unpaid salary brought
by Business Manager Horace Wall against his
employer, the person who announced himself as
A Ii. Wood, proprietor and manager Of the West
End Theatre Harlem"
Only few months ago A. Fl. Wood suddenly
attracted attention by announcing his project of
building superb theatre in Harlem and installing
there stock company, which should be the
equal in merit OF any in the city. Not long
after 1t was said that Mr.. Wood had also made
three years contract with Tommy" Russell,
who was then one of the Little Lord FaunterOys
at the Broadway Theatre. The ideas of Wood,
who Is toyish-looldng person, and who is said
TO be only twcnty-three years old, were wonder
fuliy extravagant, and he consistently endeaVored
to carry them out as long his command of
money lasted. His theatre should be no ordinary
edhce, hidden behind stores and offices, but
verinble Temple of the Drama" undesecrated
by any base commercial intrusion, and which
should be an ornament TO Harlem and a delight
to It's inhabitants. Filled with this phlan-
thropic inspiration, he instructed Architect Grie-
bel to draw plans for such building TO be
erected on the ground at the northeast corner
!of Seventh-ave and Observation-Disclosures
fourth7St, belonging to Miss Maggie Mitchell,
which Wood was supposed TO have
purchased. No fault can be found
with Mr.. GriebePs plans the elevation
giving promise of much symmetry and beauty
Contracts were made for the excavations and the
building of the foundation-walls and on June 10
the cornerstone was laid amid appropriate and
expensive ceremonies, by Tommy RUSSELL
SUPPOSED TO BE WORTH MILLIONS.
When "A H. Wood began his theatrical
ventures, reports placed the capital at his COM
mand at enormous sums, which, though often
varying, were always in the millions. The ex
travagant way in which he poured out money in
different directions went far to confirm his stories
the building of the theatre a sufficiently rapid
drain for his money, he started a weekly news
paper TO advertise the dramatic enterprise This
paper was called The West End Critic and
Hillary Bell the artist, was engaged as It's editor.
staff Of writer's was also secured, and Wood and
his emploveS were established in the offices No.
81 West Twenty-third-st. His own room was
fitted up in the most sumptuous manner with
siatues pictures, engravings, costly furniture and
silzCn dra peres. Contracts for the coming season
were made with number of wellknown actors
and actresses, including Selma Fetter, Rose
tytince Ellie Germon, Arthur Forrest and j. III.
GmOur.
Soon after the laying OF the cornerstone it
began 10 be whispered about that Woods funds
were not flowing with their wcnted freedom
The work Oh the theatre went on with extreme
slownesS. and though this officially attributed
to the delays Of contractors, the names OF those
contractors could not be obtained. Many readers
Of The Tribune will remember that during last
month Wood quarrclled with the mother and
stepfather of Tommy" Russell, and that then
the peculiar character of the contract between
them was Grst made public This contract recog-
nizcd the existence Of prior contract, Ior tAe
coming season, with Z. Henry French, but as that
could be terminated on the giving of two weeks
rLe riobf ia call upon Mrs. Lambrecht TO give
rIis notice whenever he so desired. Ihe cOnuIac9
between Wood and Mrs Lambrecht was Sgneu
in February, and from theh TO uhe u'vc t " ."
quarrel Wood" had been paying to her e4S d
week and had also employed Mr Lahprecho
The publication of the facts of this quarrel seems
10 have FASTENED the collapse oI the "esC Inu
Theatre enterprise.
WOOD Is REALLY CHARLES HAIR
When Horace Wall was seen late yesterday
. ltiP1-C no ID
it'd that the Sheriffs deputy was there in his
interest Mr.. Wall made the following statement,
al the more important points of which he read
erom his sworn complaint in his suit for salary
. ,,odo an a aoreemsnt with A. H. Wood TO become
husincss manager OF his projected theaure' anu
ou June | entered upon the duties Of that
position In order to do 50 gave up lhy nUe 80 b
IN the New-Hayen Opera House. My salary nao
fallen into arrears for some weeks, ana HuIInS @ O
last fortnight Wood has to my Kno"lcu??e U'I t
only once TO the office, though nav WI 49, III
him that business imperatlNey ueiii. ueinaiiou a. -
nresence believe he has either IeIt tne cityi VI
keeps himself concealed at the mouse ol hiS
in-lnw. Louis BIeslcr, n No ~ WIS. noev
sixth-st Mr. Brcslcr has furnlshcu al luc ar+
for Wood who does not appear TO naYe nay nou
of his own and is, ACCORDING t2 odnaS5oy an last
most dsreputablc person. On W eonrSr"s Io in this
went TO the Office Of Aaron Kahn lawyer Ia IA UD he
citw Who is also "A sonin-aw of Bresler' anu & no
toi31 me- that an indictment for forgery had oecn
found in Hobolen against Alan IL. nn.,"n and
showed him photograph of Wood Wo9qdd.s lie Of Of
once orcr recognized IL as being a Likeness VI VI
Charles Hair, whom he said he had known Ead and
his bovbood He said his character was pau, o.
hat he had been indicted for forgery on AusGi, Il
saw Inspector Byrnes, who also recGentIJldd o told
the photograph as that of llahr whom ON 1o 1orccry
me he arrested on March 10 1855, Ior TIL
and Kept locked up for two nights at desas 5,Das
The was for si 6,6 5o obancd aba Mi
from Brokaw Brothers. Wood, CT lIahr' ""3 G I
iTod irodted ' but the matter was dropped as , be-
IrTe Brescr paid the money This. mind YOU was or
before Woods marriage 10 BresierS ootbs oausT AGO.
Rr.S RTeSIer T is retired furrler who made his money
in Detroit He is old man. and does bis bG' SSf WIFE
to be strong intellectually ne 3Wo Waod ns and he
has has probably almost ruined them nave wond mi