TOURING ENTERTAINERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 105, 3 May 1917, Page 6

TOURING ENTERTAINERS.

PIANIST V. HYPNOTIST. COURT CASE CONTINUED. The civil action, Lupton (Mr. Denniston) v. Norwood (Mr. Black), opened before Mr. E. C. Cutton, S.M., yesterday morning, was continued to-day- Plaintiff, a pianist, claimed £(10, being at the rate of £4 per week for lbU weeks' wages due to him under an agreement, which, it was claimed, was operative, although plaintiff had been dismissed. The cross-examination of Norwood was continued by Mr. Dcnniston, who wished to show that defendant made a "hasty exit" from Auckland after the writ was issued. He said he understood it was a Wellington writ, and he was going to Wellington of his own accord. Mr. Denniston: You pose as a hyrtotist, don't you?— Yes, and entertainer. You pose to be able to put people under your influence for two days?—-Yes, I have done so. Did you ever endeavour to do it at Napier?—NoYou swear to that? —Yes, 1 only did it in Auckland. Oil, was that the occasion that a "subject" was caught taking a jug of coffee? Have you ever discovered any of your "subjects" taking coffee or drinking tea "while under the influence" ?—No. Mr. Dcnniston asked numerous questions concerning various people at New Plymouth, (Jreytown or district, but defendant absolutely denied ever having trouble with his employees at any time while on tour. To Mr. Black: Defendant said that after Lupton had been given notice the latter got his wife up to help him run a side-show at the Whangarei Show. This was two days before Lupton left. Lupton ran in opposition to Norwood, although the entertainments were at different hours. Benjamin E. Williams, theatre manager. Dargaville. said he saw Lupton on the occasion of the last visit of Norwood to Dargaville. Lupton ami several others were lively, but witness would not say they were drunk. He saw them putting up scenery in the evening, when Lupton seemed to he chiarking the others more than anything else and fooling round. Witness later complained to Mr. Norwood about what was going on, and Mr. Norwood said he had had a lot of trouble with his hands. ( Proceeding. J