Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-06
CLEOPATRA IN COURT.
Suit of a theatrical Manager Against
Mrs. James Brown Potter.
MANNER OF BOOMING AN ACTRESS.
Some Interesting Correspondence Intro
duced as Evidence.
HER PHOTOGRAPHS SHOULD BE DREAMY
ESPECIAL rELEeRAM TO THE prsPArcu q,

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NEW YORK. June 5.-The suit whereby
Harry C. Miner seeks to recover 81, 43s
from Mrs. James Brown Potter, was Oh
trial to-day in Part 2 of the Supreme Court
before Judge Andrews and q jury. Mr.
Miner claims that Mrs. Potter is indebted
to him in this sum. chiefly for costumes
purchased for her during her season ol
1SS7-'SS. Of this amount $1,000 was for
costumes for Mile DeBressier" and 81, 600
for ''The Iron Master"
Mrs. Potter was served with the papers In
the suit in June, 1888, on the night OF her
last appearance at the Grand Opera House.
Mr.. Miner held back her last weeks sal
ary of $400, and has never paid it to her.
Mr.. Miner testified that he had merely ad-
vanced the money for Mrs. Potter's cos
tunes. In the absence of Mrs. Potter, who
is in Australia, Franklin Bartlett, who
acted as her attorney, testified that, accord
ing to the original understanding, Manager
Miner was obliged to pay for her costumes.
This contract was offered in evidence.
TEXT OF THE CONTRACT.
1ogree to play for Mr.. Henry Miner, of New
York, an engagement of 20 consecutive weeks
in the United States of America, from October
81, 1887. on the following terms: A weekly
salary of S400, a maids expenses, carriage to
ana from theater to hotel and from depots to
hotels; s.. 600 for dresses in advance of the en-
gagement, all railroad expenses: to give Mr..
MINER the option to renewal of engagement
Tor second season at the same terms and one
third of the profits. Mrs. Potter is to have
benefit at the end of the season after deducting
the bare expenses only.
A d.
Witness: KYRLE BELLEw,
The defense introduced several letters,
principally from Mr.. Miner to Mrs. Potter
These are extracts from one, dated June IA,
1887:
l assure you that there is not a possible
doubt in my mind of your success during the
coming season, as there is hardly a man,
woman or child in America who does not know
the name of Mrs. James Brown Potter, and
who are not more than anxious to see her, I
care not about your successes or failure in Lon
don, as shall make capital out of the manner
you have been treated by the European press,
and shall bring You before the American au-
diences as our American Girl"
JUST LITTLE TAFFY.
There are one or two things would like to
call your attention to (pardon the comparison).
The first is you are younger and more attract
i've than Sarah Bernhardt, and you speak the
English language; secondly. you are better
actress than Mrs. Langtry-that is conceded by
everybody who has seen you on the stage. Now,
pause moment, and ask yourself what made
these people successful-proper management
and the confidence of the star. Now. all ask
of you is to have full confidence.
This is from letter of July 10. 1887:
Iquite agree with you that Mr.. Bellew would
be a good man for you, but there are better
ones than he. You know'he never was very
successful at Wallack's, and Mr.. Osmond
a m
there will be no difficulty about your agreeing
upon proper leading man.
On September 20, 1887, Mr.. Miner wrote
that certain photographs of Mrs. Potter
didn't please him. ''They have not that
placid, dreamy look" he says, (which is
one of the beauties of your performance.
They are not as thoughtful, and one or
two of them are little coquettish." The
case will go on tomorrow.