A THEATRICAL COMPANY IN TROUBLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 61

A THEATRICAL COMPANY IN TROUBLE.

The Cosgrove Dramatic Company, after playing nearly a. week at Wanganui, announced their intention of extending the season for three nights. What followed showed, howevs.*, that this was a "bluff " to put anxious creditors off. On Friday the company "skipped, ' leaving behind a lot of unsettled accounts and many irate creditors. The latter, hearing of the Cosgroves' intention, set the law in motion. Lunch was ordered at the Aramaho Hotel by the company, but was not partaken ' of on account of them hearing of the creditors' intention to interview them there. The next move company made was to drive to Fordell to catch the train there. Half way the cabby demanded his fare. The company tried their usual game of "bluff" on the cabby, and even talked fight , but the cabby wasn't caring, they could go ahead with their punching. He wouldn't move an inch till he got his faro. This was at last unwillingly handed over, and the party proceeded to Fordell , but here another surprise awaited them. A number of creditors met the defaulting gentlemen on the platform, and sundry wordy interviews, accompanied by delivering of summonses, etc., followed; Mr Neville Thornton, the- wellknown scenic artist, was amongst the creditors, and tried to prevent the elder Cosgiove proceeding on his journey by train. The "property man" interfered, but he -was soon put hors decombat'by Mr Thornton. The whistle shortly afterwards Mew, and something m the shape of a tug-of-wa-r on. a, small scale resultedbetween the company and the creditors, with the two Cosgroves as the rope. However, the "rope" was eventually hauled aboard the tram.The last the creditors saw or heard was the elder brother leaning out of the caniage waving his <f blue paper' 7 and shouting "Good-bye, boys." In the court, the farce of calling the defendants was- gone through, and judgment was given for plaintiffs. An officer of the court armed with warrants, expected to overtake them either at Palmerston Noith or Wellington and distrain on their effects. The money owing, togethei with costs, amounts to about £50.