The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-16
MISS SEAWE[[ TO
SUE ERIC Hope
Author Of Papa Bouchardp Says
Earl OF Yarmouth Poses
as Adapter.
Author of Papa Bouchard" Say
RAPs EN-. LIS H MANAGERS
Asserts Several Of Her Plays
Have Been Stolen, Despite
Ban on American Work.

cazenovia, N. Y. August 10
Stirred to wrath by the London
Opinions criticism Of plays, Miss
Molly Elliott Seawell, widely known
author. asserted that the best refuta-
ton of the charge that American
dramatic productions are below the
standard OF English taste is to be
found in the freedom with which Lon
don managers plagiarize from the
work of authors in the United States.
Nor does the appropriation stop at
mere paragraphs. says Miss Seawell,
who asserts that the name OF the Earl
of Yarmouth has been used as the
author Of her play. Papa Bouchard,
or the Pigeon House," She is now
planning to sue the earl.
Miss seawe,l asserts that "The
Pigeon House,. produced with cast
tof forty six persons as a musical COM
sedy at the New Theatre, Cardiff
Wales, June 81 last, is her work from
beginning to end. She also says that
She some time ago refused request
from the Earl of YARN outh, known on
the stage as Eric Hope. for permission
to dramatic the story. q
II have written to my London solici-'
tors said Miss SeaWell to a res
porter, "and have instructed them to-
protect my rights in the play. I have
written also to the London Times, the
Stage and the Referee, calling att
show is q case of wholesale piracy
Il received a request months ago
from the Earl Of Yarmouth asking
permission to dramatic Papa Bouch-e
ard but wrote declining.
Now his name Is blazoned as author
4 of the play, which has been put on In!
Wales under my subtitle, The
Pigeon House.. had many offers from
American dramatists to adapt the
story. but as I Intended to do the
work mlself l refused them all,
II am we'll convinced that the Earl
sof Yarmouth is not the real adapter,
but i think that some shrewd man
ager seeking commercial possibilities
in the earl's title, Is exploiting him
as the adapter of my story.
"The production seems to have been.
brilliantly successful, although. no
doubt, merely q trial sperformance.T The
Earl OF Yarmouth appeared not only
as author, but IN rOle III stnh play.
Nor is this the only play Of mine
which has been SO treated in England.
An English Clergyman produced In
1905 a play OF mine as his, placed
the matter in the. hands ofsmy soli-3
Soitors, Meskrs. Whitall & Whtall. In
London, a little more than a year go.
when for the first time I discovered
the theft. The clerical plagiarist adj
United the theft, and made some vague
offers OF payment which, however,
my solicitors have been unable to
fobta In. 81 N IA
was also asked by a London
playwright for permission to dramatize
my story, The Chateau OF Monplatsir.'
and a contract with q manager was
offered to me. ] refused the request,
sbut8now T find hat the characterization
is going on Just the same. In the
course of time that, too, will be pros
Sduced In London as The work 4 q; an
English dralnatist, however, after l
have brought the Earl OF Yarmouth
into lcou I, as ~ hope q to do, here may
be reformat Ion ot 2 ngl lah,. dramatic
4. met hods.I ",