The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-01-23
MANSFIELD THE ACTOR,
To BE Sued by Katherine Gray, the Actress
Because He Rugged Her Too
Tightly.
(New York World.)

NkNSW 1OIh " Ollu.D
Miss Katharine Gray is hard at work
preparing her suit at law against Rich
ard Mansfield, the actor. A. II. Hum
mel is her advisor.
She is feeble and nervous. She sits
on an invalid's chair between the piano
and the wall covered with pictures, at
the window Of her room. From it's
height she sees Central park, and it
interests her, but her eyes are weak and
she has to wear smoked glasses that
discolor objects.
She said yesterday: when Mr. Mans
field made excuses to me they were in
this form: You must not be angry about
anything. Attribute only to eccentric
ity Of genius the things that say or do
that grieve you. 1 am privileged to have
a bad temper. 1t is eccentricity of ge-
MUS I denied that eccentricity of ge-
MUS made man cruel to a woman. I
said: L cannot endure it; 1 am going to
quit you
He replied, IF you quit me I shall
ruin you He is a great actor, you
know; I cannot dispute that. He has a
great deal of authority. If he wishes to
ruin my professional career he has the
ability to do it. Mr.. Hummel says No;
that is nonsense. He cannot, he would
not try to do anything of the sort But
have horror of the idea. STILL I have
quilted him. 1t is my duty to sue him
and I am preparing to do that.
What he has done! What has he not
done? He came to me in the summer
saying that 1 should have advantages
that were never given to a leading act
ress of his company. I should have my
own drawing room, my choice of gowns,
a certain number of privileged atten-
tions. They We're specific in the con-
tract.
II went to work with him in October.
In Boston, in the second week of our
engagement, he snapped his fingers
while / was acting. He mimicked my
voice and walk derisively. could
hear what he was saying distinctly be-
hind the scenes, and every word of
what he was saying was intended to
make me nervous and angry, incapable
of doing anything.
81 came to New York expressly to
consult a lawyer, and saw ex-Judge
Dittenhoefer, who is Mansfield's law
yer. l was not aware of that. Mr.
Dittenhoefer said: There is nothing to
do. You must stand Mansfields &C.
centricity 1t is not as bad as it seems
to you. You must stay in his company
and not complain
81 remained as long as I could He
groaned while / spoke my lines on the
stage. He said, You are running my
play He made grimaces that meant,
You do not know what you are doing,
or You are intolerable'
| AT one moment he pressed his wrists
against mine and stared at me hate
fully, hurting me physically and men
| tally At another moment he pressed
me in his arms so tightly that 1 could
not breathe.
He employed minor persons and cast
| them in parts that were mine as the
leading actress of his company / suf-
fered for the indignities that he heaped
upon me, but / suffered also for the
indignities that he heaped upon others
AT Christmas we had a rehearsal al
H. by his direction. We had finished al
noon, but he telephoned at 1915 to hold
the company until he came. He came
at 1870, and we had to work until 4
He said TO Miss Myra Brooks: You
are coarse and vulgar. You cannot play
comedy
II suppose those people remain in hi.
company because they have to- / ha(
to. But | fell Ill because of his treat
ment of me, and here have been fol
two weeks, i'll and worried to death
He has not even sent word of inquiry
l have not had my salary. Neither Mr.
Palmer nor Mr.. Dillon has deigned Il
express the least interest in my condi
ton.
II think Mr. Mansfield will not b,
permitted to say 1t Is eccentricity of ge
MUS In court"