New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-09
BONCI SUIT BEGUN.
HGmmerstein Seeks Injunction
Contract an English.

Nathan Vidaver. Oscar Hammerstein's counsel
summoned the reporters yesterday afternoon and
let them into the secrets OF the Bonci mystery
The seance began at o'clock, and few minutes
before papers were fled in suit for an injunction
10 restrain the tenor from singing anywhere in
New York or America except at the Manhattan
opera House. copy Of the complaint was served
on Bonci last night The suit brought in the
United States District Court. the federal courts
having Jurisdiction because Bonci is an alien.
The contract between Bonci and Hammerstein
forms large part Of the complaint Contrary TO
the general opinion. and that apparently held at
The Metropolitan Opera House, 1t was written In
English and drawn up In Milan. the original con-
tract being in Mr.. Vidaver's safe 1t was shown 10
the reporters yesterday. contains the provisions
which have been matter Of general gossip, dis
closing the fact that the tenor's compensation for
each performance this year has been $500.
The renewal clause In the contract provides that
after forty days" Mr.. Hammerstein shall have
the right to claim the singers services for two
more seasons, the rate Of compensation being N,VO
a performance for the first year of renewal and
H.lO0 performance for the second The other
clauses likely 10 figure in the legal settlement Of
the dispute are two. One provides that all dis
putes and questions arising under the contract
shall be settled in the italian courts the other that
within thirty days OF the signing OF the contract
$500 shall be deposited IN the Bank Of Milan, TO
be drawn by Bonc after his last performance
1t is alleged in the complaint that on November
20 1906. Bonci demanded Of HammersteiD the i'm
additional 5000. and that Hammerstein agreed to
do condition that Clause S. the first OF the
two referred to, be stricken from the contract and
regarded null and void. II is a consequence
OF this verbal contract that Hammerstein brings
suit here instead of in the Italian courts
wrote TO the tenor's manager, Carbone telling him
to consider Bonci re-engaged according 70 the re-
Several interesting facts are revealed in the con-
tract. one is that BOnCis repertory for New York
was limited to fourteen operas in two OF which he
mas NOT appeared and IN one OF which ms part was
sung by Bassl. A clause In the contract PROVIDES
that no tenor other than Bonci shall be caused 70
but 1t said yesterday that the singing Of
bassl In IN BaIlo IN Mascnera was PROVIDED
for by special agreement. Another is that the con-
tract did not provide for the debut Of Bonci In
effective parts according to his own fancy, but did
that opera 'Rigoletto'' or IL Elisir d Amore.''
Late last night after the papers had been served
for the Metropolitan Opera Company and for Mr.
Conried personally said. when told OF the ectioIl'
that he did not believe Mr. Hammersteln had q
against the tenor.
"Of course. I cannot say or give opinion until
contract upon which Mr.. Hammerstein bases his
suit he said. y have heard something Of the
know OF the difficulty do not think Mr.. Hammer
stein has any ground for an Injunction. ioH Know
have construed the contracts of performers gen
orally very leniently.'
u am told that a man I used TO have here TO
interpret for the singers who has time and again
tried 10 make trouble here, told Bonci wasn't GO
ing 10 live up TO his contract" said MI Hammer
stein. He had authority, and after another
incident while 1 fired him That may be
.'Siguor Bouci would have a defence equally as
strong this incident q am told this VIII be his
hands told him would give him thirty perform
ances or one Of my scrubwomen told him would
said I would not give him any II Bonct told any
one. on hearing that absurd story that he haq
b