The Daily Dispatch: April 8, 1861., [Electronic resource]

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A ‘"Star"’ actress Sues a theatrical Manager.

--Mrs. Lucy Ann McMahon, who several years ago acquired much notoriety in the theatrical world by her petulant attempts to convince the incredulous public of her surpassing histrionic abilities, recovered $200 with interest, last week, from John Bates, Manager of the National Theatre, Cincinnati, for breach of contract. The defence set up was that Mrs. McMahon was not a competent actress, and that the manager was misled by newspaper criticisms sent to him by the actress — an assertion which the latter denied.--In support of the manager's theory a number of theatrical performers were called, and generally testified that she was the worst star they ever saw. The plaintiff rebutted this disparagement of her professional excellence by the depositions of a number of New York lawyers, merchants and dramatic amateurs, who spoke in high terms of her acting. One of the witnesses in the case, Mr. Shires, testified that the lady could make a splendid stump speech, and that of itself should attract full houses.