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Tribune
DEATH OF WILLIAM STUART.
Dec 29, 1886
THEATRICAL MANAGER AND CRITIC.

THE MAN WHO ATTACKED EDWIN FORREST AND HELPED MAKE EDWIN BOOTH'S REPUTATION.

Edmund O'Flaherty, better known as William Stuart, the old-time theatrical manager, dramatic and general newspaper writer, died on Monday evening in the house at 5[[2?]]3]] East One-hundred-and-twentieth-st., which the Board of Charities and Correction lately leased for the purpose of establishing a hospital there. Mr. Stuart had been living in the house since May 17, and was the guest of his old friend, Nicholas Kilroy, who has been appointed steward of the hospital: For the last three years he had been suffering from sciatica, and for several months has been treated by Dr. Hussey, of Charlton-st., for that ailment On Monday evening while sitting in a room in a lower part of the house, he complained of a pain in the region of his heart and expressed a desire to lie down. Mr, Kilroy was assisting up the stairs to his room on the second floor when, without warning, Mr, Stuart fell and was only prevented from rolling to the floor below by the presence of mind of his friend, who grasped and held him by a portion of his clothing,  He was carried to his room and Dr. Shelly, of One-hundred-and-twenteith-st., was summoned, but arrived too late to be of any assistance.  Deputy Coroner Herold was informed of the occurrence and after an examination declared that Mr. Stuard had died from an attack of heart disease, 
The arrangements for the funeral have not yet been completed:  As Mr. Stuart is not know to have any relative living, his friends, among whom are ex-Judge Shea, Lester Wallack, ex-Judge Charles P. Daly, Recorder Smyth and S. L. M. Barlow, will take charge of the funeral: 
M. Stuart was born in County Galway, Ireland, sixty five years ago, and was a direct descendant of the O'Flaherty who for many years rule din the West of the Emerald Isle.  He was educated at Eton when Cardinal Wiseman was at the head of that institution, and soon after being graduated became interested in the politics of his country. He was private secretary for the Duke of Newcastle for several years, and by him was introduced at court.  Then for a short time he represented Dungarvan in Parliament, and later was appointed Chief Commissioner of the Income Tax of Galway through the instrumentality of W. E. Gladstone. 
The circumstances which impelled him to come to this country and to change his name were a mystery except to his most intimate friends in this country. As the story goes, he became interested with the Right Hon. William Henry Gregory, the late Governor of Ceylon in racing matters. Through the influence of the latter he was induced to stake all his belongings on a certain horse which ran in the Derby of 1858.  The horse lost and he was ruined.  Upon the advice of Mr. Gladstone he came to this country to live until Mr. Gregory had settled the financial difficulties which his racing experience had precipitated upon him, but he made so many friends here that he never returned.  He booked at the steamship office in Liverpool as William Stuart and used that name until he died. 
Upon arriving in this country Stuart began to write for many of the journals and periodicals which were then in existence. He was for some time dramatic critic for THE TRIBUNE and wrote for its columns a striking series of articles on Edwin Forrest's Shakespearian characters, which attracted wide attention.  Since that time his pen has been used in the service of nearly all the daily papers of this city.
About three years after his arrival in this country Mr. Stuart went into partnership with Dion Boucicault and leased Wallack's Theatre, which they managed for a year.  During this time they introduced to the public Matilda Heron.  It was about this time also that they gave at the old Academy of Music the first series of promenade concerts ever given in New-York.  A short time afterward Mr. Stuart made a second essay in theatrical management. He leased and managed until it was burned, about 1867, the old Niblo's Winter Garden. Here he piloted the fortunes, among others, of Edwin Booth who, under his management played Hamlet for what was then an unprecedented run of 100 nights.  Afterward, in with his old partner, Mr. Boncicault, he built the new Park Theatre, which, while under Henry E. Abbey's management, was burned some few years ago.  After that Mr. Stuart devoted himself to journalism.  His articles, generally of a reminiscent character, appeared in The World and Sun up to a recent date, and not long ago he wrote both theatrical and social gossip for The Citizen, a short-lived weekly edited by ex-Senator Creamer.
In his younger days Mr. Stuart was noted for his hospitality.  His home in Fifteenth-st. was always open to his friends, as was a pretty country house he built for himself in New-London.  He had a reputation as a gourmet and wrote much upon the subjects of the table and cookery.  Among those of his old friends who deplored his death last night was Theodore Moss, of Wallack's Theatre, "I have known him for many years," said he, "and a more delightful companion or clever conversationalist I never met. I am sorry to say he went out of the world with but little more than he had when he came into it.  His open-handedness was his chief failing."
Mr. Stuart never married.  His brother, who represented Galway in Parliament for eighteen years, died two years ago.
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as the years of her absence go by with an ever increasing love and tenderness. She lives in my memory as the dearest blessing of my blessed life, the loveliest woman I ever saw or ever expect to see and I never lose the hope that we shall meet again. I have painted most of the day over at my studio and sitting there in that silent place once blessed with her presence I have thought of our early married life there and pictured her as she seemed in her sunny and happy youth, the embodiment of love and tenderness and womanly sweetness. 

368

turday January 1" 1887.
ight and most of the forenoon and again snowed 
evening it cleared. I went down to the mail at
the wet snow. My father had two calls from his
ey and Mr. Ellsworth, the wagon maker of Kingston
the custom having apparently utterly died out. I
of my papers, reading a little and writing to Ma=
this evening I went over to Girards and went with
over to the Toboggan slide which was to have been
was not on account of the rain. It was expected
but they found it in an unfit condition. There
eople then attracted by curiosity. We soon re=
little tonight and there is every prospect of good

Sunday 2" It grew cold in the night and has been cold and bright all day. This evening the wind is blowing from N.W. and it is very cold. I have read most of the day. Girard brought his toboggan over for me to paint the name on it which I did. 

Monday 3" The Mercury marked 8° below zero this morning at 8 o'clock and was 13° below down town. I walked down to the mail and met poor old Robinson with no gloves on this cold morning. I bought some [[lemons?]] of him which he was to take up here While I was in De[[?]] store a little boy came in to buy half a pound of 6 [[?]] sugar. He had no mittens and was thinly clad. I took him into a store and bought him a pair of warm mittens and told him to comeuppance on the hill and I would give him some stockings. When I got back home Robinson was here warming himself by the hall stove. I gave him a pair of my fathers buckskin mittens lined with flannel. I told him I knew him when he owned the High Falls mill. He said he ran it 15 years for his mother and 15 more for himself Tommy Cornell in those days - he was poor as a 
ever traced him now. He said "yes. He gave
day and I am going to him again today"
slept. He answered "whenever night overtakes me"
" 'Oh' he said "I have plenty to eat, my friends
me a pair of pantaloons John McEntee
some one else gave him. Poor old fellow. He
out see how. He is one of the tough [[?]], Sto=
been too cold to work in my studio. I have
tinkering. My taxes are done $350 in the 12"
when they are [[?]] from. No inquiries yet
and I could hardly expect any yet. No word from 
be some way out I am sure. The Tobogganers 
oday and tonight. My badge for the Club was sent

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