The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-18
mrs. LESLIE CARTER IN COURT
TELLS. BLUSHING. now SAMUEL
NIXON SAID "HELL."

I Narter hat on the witness stand ye6tefuAy
for half an hour and gave evidence in favor
! Of David Belasco In his suit against the
| theatrical syndicate for an accounting OF
/ the profits Of The Auct ioneer.' Mrs. Carter
! blushed crimson as she told the breathless
audience how Samuel Nixon, the Phila-
delpha member Of the syndicate, had
assured her that there would be hell to
| pay because Of the double dealing Of
Klaw & Erlsnger in their relations with
! Beasco, to whom the syndicate was vio-
| lenty opposed.
! Mrs Carter looked az interesting, though
/ hardly as gorgeous, as a witness as she
! did in "Zaza" and -Du Barry She
| wore a gray checked dress Of soft SHIN
merry silk. with white lace bodice and
hat Of small white feathers covered with an
enormous white automobile veil She
dropped from her shoulders a long Persian
lamb cloak, with a great collar Of some
zebra striped fur, when she took the stand.
She drove 10 court in a cab with MIR
Belasco, and tripped up the long steps with
the activity Of a sixteen year-old girl She
did not join the crowd In the court room,
where the wife and daughter Of Samuel
Untermyer we're sitting. Eluding the army
Of sna shot photographers, she sat in pri-
vate room in the rear Of the court until her
name was called,
Around her neck was a string Of pearls
and on her hands were immaculate white
kid gloves While testifyng she rested
one hand on her hip and the other on the
edge Of the Judges bench; he faced Mr..
Untermyer, and responded to his ques-
tons and those Of Mr.. Gruber eagerly and
quickly, biting Of her words in that precise
manner typical OF Belasco himself, often
Struggling her shoulders and bringing
one hand into the other to emphasize
the point she desired to make. She smiled
continuously save once or twice for a
moment when Mr. Gruber's insstence
brought a pouting frown to her brow.
Mrs. Carter was called in rebuttsl Of
Nixon's version Of his interview with her
and Belasco. The interview, she said, took
place at the Hotel Walton, Philadelphia,
in November, 1903 Nixon called TO warn
Belasco to keep away from the theatre
where "Zaza' was to open that night, as
Charles Frohman, he said had papers ready
TO serve on him TO enjoin the play.
Beasco's reply, Mrs Carter said. was
TO declare that the time had come for him
10 speak out and to inform Nixon that
ing them so per cent. Of the "Auctioneer'
profits in return for route
Fifty per cent Nixon exclaimed IN
surprise" Mrs. Carter continued. 1
should have come in on that, but did not
| think my time has come, OF will soon,
to call Granger to account for this double
dealing
WAS Brooks mentioned at that inter
view?" MIR. UnteHnyer asked. Brooks
is, as Belasco maintains, the dummy part
l.. 4 in AaT 70
ceal Klaw & ErlanRer's part in the affair |
from the rest Of the syndicate.
NO. replied Mr.. Carter. Brooks was |
never mentioned. have never met him. |
Did Nixon use any profane wordsI
Mr.. UnternyeT went on.
Yes, replied Mrs. Carter, looking down
and lingering her long veil
What did he sayf Did he say thsre'd
be-be hell OF something 20 that ehect|
Mrs Carter blushed, Yes, he said
there'd be-hell--
About WHAT
This whole business OF Klaw 4 Err
hanger ,.-
sitti ing down, and then Mr.. Gruber took
the witness in hand He had a grin all
over his face, and seemed to enjoy the
who brought you here?- he asked
Il came myself, at my own great pleas
ure, answered the actress.
1Alone?7
oh NO, Mack was with me. He's Mr..
Belasco's secretary or something like that
one Of the boys around the theatre
Have you ever spoken about the testi-
mony you were going to give here|
Certainly. | have frequently spoken
OF IL TO Mr. Belasco, 10 his lawyer. Mr..
fact to almost everybody /
know, in the last year OF 50. IL has been
on my mind
What has been on your mind?' MIR.
- . 4 YaHtsw h.
ion, asked her what she knew Of Nixon's
testimony. WAS it read TO your be
no; I read It in the newspapers, and
then spoke about it TO Mr. Nidaver
told him what ! knew and what | was
going to testify to-
Repeat il ali, said Gruber. Il like to
hear you talk, Mrs. Carter
AMP" she replied, laughing. Very well.
| told him how Mr.. Nixon came to see Mr..
Belasco. and how he SAID that Mr.. IRON
man was going 20 bar -Iaza- out, And
told Mr. Vidaver that Mr. Belasoo told MIR.
Nixon that Khw 4 ETlanger had given US
route like a pendulum, and Mr. Nixon re-
piled that they wanted TO make him spend
his money, az they were afraid OF , nun
ont money, they could shut him out they
thought Mr.. Nixon said.
Mr. Gruber stopped her.
sDid Mr. Belasco ever tell you Klaw a
Erlnnger were afraid Of him?'
No" Mrs. Carter replied
How long have you been associated
with him.
ITO answer that properly, | may say that
I have never acted for anybody else. l
have been with him sixteen years
Justice Fitzgerald took hand here.
sIn the Nixon interview he said did
he saw ANYTHING more than you have told?'
Except that he did not know that Klaw
A ErlanRer we're getting a half share OF
The Auctioneer, and that he intended TO
call them to account Tor their double
dealing
and what did you mean by the ex-
ure-s. on that you had pendulum route?"
-Olc that makes great Jumps and the
protits all 20 for Tailroading."
you have very kindly feelings for Mr.
Relasco3" Mr.. GTuber resumed
Mrs Carter answered emotionaly: Il am
more than friendly. am deeply thankful
and grateful TO him from the bottom OF
And YOU don't know Klaw a ErlanRer?"
Not In the slightest. | have never met
either Mr.. Klaw OF Mr. Granger, and have
had no dealings with them at all
Have you any feeling for themy-
Il have no personal feeling at all, but
them most disagreeable persons
10 deal with
Why, since you have had no dealings
with them?'
sNIby9 Racause I have CHANGED ~ plav I