THE STAFFORD TOWN AMATEUR DRAMATIC CLUB.

West Coast Times, Issue 944, 1 October 1868, Page 3

THE STAFFORD TOWN AMATEUR DRAMATIC CLUB.

To Oje Editor of the West Coast Time" - " and Observer,

, „ Sib — Will y"ou be good, ehougii to insert /- t^ie. following statement iv : yd.ur valuable T paper! Some tKree or four weelcs siricfc the Stafford Town Amateur Dramatic Club gave a performance for the benefit of a poor woman named Lahey, the clear proceeds of which was L 25 after deducting expenses incidental to the evening, and although the Club had been to considerable X expense for scenery, dresses, &c , not one B penny was retained by them towards such ™ B^pense, .but, the whple { of the £25 was handed over to a committee appointed to use it as Mrs Lahey should desire. The said committee then waited on Mrs Lahey and proffered her the sum total, but

she expressed a wish that a mangle should jbe procured, aud that a few debts should |N*be paid, the remainder to go towards reT pairing her house. I was at once entrusted by the committee to purchase a mangle, which, after some little trouble, I Succeeded in doing, .sent it to Stafford TqwriandHadit'er6ctCd: ; , , In the meantime, some cvii desposed person has spread a report, which became current in this " Little Pedlington," that Mrs Lahey had stated, that she was starving, and could not get a shilling of the money derived from her benefit, and also that the mangle was forced on her by the committee. v I need scarcely add thaj; such a report, if liot refuted*. Will materially, injure any fUtUre benefits given by the dub, and, therefore, beg to enclose you the balance sheet, which if you will kindly publish, Will give a distinct denial to such malicious reports. I jnay mention, that for some weeks' previous to the performance, the Amateur Dramatic Club, being aware of Mrs Lahey's distress, pledged themselves to pay for any stores she niigut require, anticipating her benefit ; and they, together with ttie committee, feel exceedingly aiiiioyed that she does not publicly acknowledge the receipt of the amount collected for her, or. even, the efforts of the S.T.A.D.. Club on her behalf; such negligence, to say the least, combined with the reports alluded to, will Scarcely induce the . club to come forward on any future occassioii. I now call upon Mrs Lahey to publicly verify the truth of this statement, and apologising for trespassing so much on your valuable space, I am, Sir, Yours, &c, 11. MARKS, President AD. Club. Stafford, Sept. 24. Mrs Lahey, in'account With S. T. A. D. Club. To amolirit of Benefit, lessincidental expenses of the night £25 4 0 By amount paid to Fhillip's (stores) ... . is 3 7 0 By invoice, mangle, Johnson 5 10 0 Cash, Mrs Lahey ... 3 0 0 Reid, funeral of infant.. i 110 0 Fucking..; o IS 0 Cash, Mrs Lahey, balance io 18 6 £25 4 0 » Stafford, Sept. 20, 18G8. We have audited the above account, and hereby certify the same to be correct, ' (Signed) J. M. PROCTOR ] Committee ap.TAS. J. JOLLY \ pointed to disMAKK DIAS ) pose of Funds.