The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-11
THOs. c. LEATH
ANSWERS CALL
Prominent Theatrical Man Passes
Away at Memorial
Hospital
COMPLICATION OF DISEASES
End Had Been Expected Hourly
Since He Was Brought Here
Two Weeks Ago.
COMPLICATION OF DISEASE

Mr.. Thomas q. Leath, one Of the
most prominent theatrical men of the
South, died at the Memorial Hospital
at II.45 o'clock Monday morning. at
ter a lingering illness of several
weeks. Mr.. Leath Was brought 10
the hospital ON March as. from his
winter home at West Palm Beach,
Fla. where he had been II some time
before 1t WAS decided 10 bring him
TO Richmond for treatment. since
mis- arrival here the doctors nad helo
out no encouragement, as 1t WAS seen
at q glance that his case Was nope
less.
MIR. ..eath's condition had been
I considered critical for the past sew
..ral days and his death was Expected
| at any moment When the end came
/ Monday morning IL occasioned no sur
prise HE sister, Miss Monte Leafh.
| was at his side when he breathed his
/ last.
I The funeral arrangements have not
| yet been completed. II has been given
/ out. however, that funeral services
VIII be conducted Tuesday afternoon
In Petersburg. and that interrnent
will he made in that city The list
of pallbearerx has not yet been made
UP.
| His u Varied Career.
| MIR. Leath's career was a varied one.
Born in Appomattox county in Sep
TENDER, lS42. he cme to Petersburg
whe ma young boy and worked as a
clerk i'm several of the stores there.
He entered the service of the Confed-
racy. and did valuabi work as cav
aIryman during. the last year OF the
war, He began his carer as an en-
| tertalner while in the army. often
amusing the troops by his magical
| tricks. He later visited the West,
! travelling the big waterways in the
aer boats. In his business career he
had bee ma sewing machine agent,
circus agent theatrical press agent
treasurer and manager of road COM
panies and engaged In other occupa-
tons of great variety. Immediately
following the war Mr.. Leath went to
| .....e4p,.ua wnefe ne DetHme mid
lie man in a minstrel troupe He
later became superintendent OF q
cemetery in Norfolk. which position
he secured through his service In the
army.
HE opened the first variety theatre
in Virginia This theatre was started
in Petersburg and proved a complete
failure. During his theatrical career
Mr. Leath was treasurer and manager
of the old Richmond theatre and after
the death of Mrs. Powell, the owner
he leased the Theatre. He was also
lessee and manager of the old Vir-
einia Opera House on Ninth street
He had been lessee and manager OF
the Richmond Academy Of Music fol
tthe past twenty years. and the leading
figure In theatrical life here. He Wal
owner and general manager OF Bar
bour Brothers Mirstrels and of othcl
theatrical companies
President Of Lcath Circuit.
I. As president Of the Leath Theatre
cal Circuit, Mr.. Leath had of late
wears been one OF the most prominen
Ifigures in theatrical circles In thu
South. In the theatrical war between
Klaw and Erlanger and the Schuberts
ne espoused the cause of the formel
!, and thought hts influence In the Souti
he is responsible for the fact that tn.
entire Southern circuit il In line with
the theatrical trust OF which Klaw ant
Erlanger are the head.
Mr.. Leath was q past exalted rule
, of the Lodge Of Eiks and that lodg'
will probably send q delegation to tn
! funeral His only near relative Il hi
+ sister, Miss Monte Leath. who sur
wives him. Mr.. Lseath had been sicl
/ at different times for the past tw
years and the disease Of which h
, died gradually became more pro
, nouncod until his death. For the pas
seven years he had spent the winter
/, at his home at West Palm Beach an,
/ II was from this home that no wa
, brought to Richmond for treatmen
! whom his illness became dangerous.
The. L4eafh Theatrical Circuit com
priEes al OF the first class theatres i
Virginia The death OF the presiden
VIII not materially affect tho affair
~ thn cirx.,rtt a. yaoaf f1f fha 10 -