The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-06-06
WAS WARY
DIDN'T WANT 1T KNOWN HE WAS
MRS. CARRIERS CANCEL,
Letters Read mt the Trial OF David
Belasco's Suit for $4,000 for
Training an Actress.

NEW YORK, June SIN the cross-exam-
ination of David Belasco in the suit which
he brought against ~. X Faitbanl<. -Ciai--
cago, to recover $4,000 for developing the
dramatic talents OF Mrs. Leslie Carter. the
defense asked for the production Of letters
which had been written by Fairbank or his
representatives TO Mrs. Carter. The letters
were handed TO Fairbanks attorney, and
the complainant's counsel insisted that they
should be read. Those which were read
were of thoroughly busnesslike character.
unless exception might be made in the case
OF one signed ". X. F., and which was as
follows; II am going out to dine this even
ing, but will call about o'clock" A letter
from Mr.. Allen, Fairbanks Chicago lawyer.
which was dated June Il, 1885, said: "Mr. L.
cannot understand why you do not get on
with your preliminary work" Other COM
muncations signed T. X. Willard or L. K.
W., Willard being Fairbanks New York
representative. informed Mrs. Carter that
Eugene Lewis, attorney, was the only
person who should be known in connection
with the dramatic enterprise beside herself.
and she must be methodIcal in business mat
ters. furnishing vouchers for expense ac-
counts; keep Manager Price advised regard
Ing drafts, ETC.. and requesting that she do
not call on the writer at his hotel or club.
Beiasco testified that ut the time he says he
was engaged by Fairbank he was earning
anywhere from 81. 900 TO $50 go a year. He ad-
mitted that after this suit was Instituted ne
had told Fairbank that il would be policy
for him to settle. but he denied having sug-
gested that he mad papers which Fairba nix
would not like TO see published
Paul Potter, the dramat!st, was called as a
witness for the plaintiff. Efforts TO elicit
from him an estimate of the cash value OF
Belasco's services In such enterprises as that
in which Fairbank is alleged. TO have been
interested were successfully resisted by coun-
sci for the defense. Mr.. Potter says that for
his work on ''The Ugly Duckling' his lawyer
had received check signed by E. x. WILL
Beiasco was recalled and swore that he
had no interest in the earnings of Mrs. Car
ter. He also denied that there was ever a
demand made by Willard. Allen. Morrisey or
Herrick. the representative OF Fairbanl.
for the repayment OF any of the advances
made 10 him.
witness. An effort 10 Introduce an agree
ment between Price and Mrs. Carter was
ruled out as not being binding on Fairbank.
Witness said that ON an occasion when he
called at Mrs. Carter's apartments, two
weeks after the opening OF Mrs Carter in
New York. he met Allen and Willard there.
They told him Fairbank tired of the
whole business and had already spent more
money than he should have done. and that
anyhow they could not feel responsible for
his (Price's) agreement with Mrs. Carter:
but they finally induced witness 10 go on 10
Toronto with the company. on the assur-
ance that the matter OF S, which was
due him would be paid by Fairbank and
everything would be arranged satisfactorily
10 Mr.. Price.
Witness said Belasco was never announced
or posted as the proprietor of the ugly
Duckling.' and that Belasco was known
only as the note heads described him as
The Artistic Manager OF the enterprise
When the company closed its engagement
at Kansas City. Price testified Allen had
told him he wanted TO know how much II
would take to wind up their affairs as ne
feared Fairbank would not advance any
more money. BY arrangement with MOrri-
| son acting for Allen the urgent claims
against the company were discharged and
the members OF the cor ny supplied with
| transportation TO New York. The trial is
still on.