New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-05
STEUER THROWS BACK
ERLANCER'S CHARGES
LAWYER Denies Bribery and
BIackmaiI Stories Told by
Theatrical Manager.
TELLS OF FAKE CONTRACT
SAYS Snowman Suggested That
One Easily Broken Could
Be Drawn Up for Miss
St. Clair.

The principal witness yesterday III INC
suit of Miss Edith ST. Clair against Ma"
& Erlanger 20 enforce d -ontract 1or the
payment Of $4,000. now on trial III 'he
Supreme Court, was Max ID. Steuer, VINO
acted as attorney for Miss ST. clair IN
the negotiation Of the contract. Erlanger
had said steuer blackmailed him into
signing the contract, and the 'neaulcai
manager also limited that the lawyer had
taken part in the alleged bribins OF the
Jury that acquitted former Senator FRANK
J. Gardner.
Edmund L. Mooney. trial counsel for the
actress, did not let pass the charges made
by Mr.. Erlanger against the lawyer. ou'
went right at them by asking Mr. Steuer
first whether he had ever heard the inu-
nation that he or any one had brioed the
Gardner Jury. Mr.. Steuer replied Never
in my life"
Mr.. Mooney followed the first question
with: IL must apologize in asking you
this question, but in order to nave
specific answer, did you bride the Garoner
jury?" The emphatic answer OF Mr.
Steuer was ST did not. ] never saw any
of the jurors before or after the trial ana
never talked to them. except when tney
were in the jury box
Received Salary Year Around.
Mr.. Steuer was called TO the stand after
the cross-examination Of Miss st. Ciair
by William Travers Jerome, counsei TOT
Klaw & Erlanger. Mr.. Jerome began by
asking the plaintiff questions about her
family and her early life. She said she
was a native of Nashville. Tenn. and was
born in 1882 Mr.. Mooney objected to the
efforts OF Mr.. Jerome to ascertain the
parentage of the witness. Justice Pendle-
ton reversed an earlier ruling that MISS
St Clair would not have to tell, and with
tears in her eyes she said her father was
Michael Roxton, who is dead.
Mr.. Mooney explained that the mother
of his client was infrm and aged. ana
asked that certain 'decencies be pre-
served" This was in answer to Jerome
remark "why all this fuss about giving
the names Of Miss St Clair's parents!
Counsel for the plaintiff continued, ad-
dressing Mr.. Jerome: II won't stand your
innuendoes about anything disgraceful 10
be covered up"
Mr.. Jerome then got down to the pay
that from 1903 to 1905 she received heI
salary. even in the closed season. She
said that Mr.. Erlanger paid her, some
times in his Office and other times at his
apartment. The actress said that even
while she was appearing in the produc'
tons of other managers she received hei
salary from Mr.. Erlanger and always In
cash.
Miss St Clair said she was not quite
sixteen years old when she was employed
by Mr.. Erlanger. She played soubrette
and ingenue roles Mr.. Jerome asked
'Ingenue parts are supposed TO represent
innocent, unsophisticated girls, are they
not?" They are" replied the witness.
The testimony OF Mr.. Steuer consisted
in large part of denias of statements
made about him by Mr. Erlanger al
though he explained more fully the maxi
ing of the contract over which the suit
was brought He denied that he had pre-
vented the reconciliation OF Mr. Erlanger
and his wife, as the theatrical manager
had said In fact he said, he had done
his best TO bring them together again He
denied that Mrs. Erlanger obtained her
divorce through evidence manufactured
BY him as her counsel and he denied that
he was attorney for Bridge" Weber. the
gambler, as Mr.. Erlanger said
Erlsnaer Feared "Vuitures"