THE CASE'AGAINST LE BRUN

Evening Star, Issue 17528, 7 December 1920, Page 2

THE CASE'AGAINST LE BRUN

EVIDENCE OP TEE INJURED ACTRESS. THE FEATHERED HEADDRESS. Louis Le Bran, the vaud#nlle performer, a man of 32 years, before the Auckland Court yesterday on a charge that, on November 24, he assaulted Alice Ermey so as to cause her actual bodily harm. The circumstances surrounding the charge, stated Sergeant Rowell, involved four variety performers—Mr and Mrs Le Brnn and Mr and Mrs Ermey -(known professionally as Yank and Jean). On November 24, when Ermey and his wife were practising their turn at Fullers' Operahouse, it was alleged they were attacked by Le Brun. * , Alice Violet Ermey stated that she was on the steps leading from the dressing rooms to the stage, when Le Brun< called i from a dressing room door: "Just a minute} I want to talk to yon," adding to her husband "And I'll talk to you afterwards." She went down the steps and just as she got to the foot Le Brun struck her a blow in the face, and knocked her into her husband's arms. When she recovered from dizziness she ran upstairs, followed by Mrs Le Brun, ;who came' behind her in a threatening manner. When witness got to the stage she saw De Wilfred practising on the xylophone, and called to him to summon the police. She then ran down the steps, and saw Le Brnn and her husband engaged in a corner with some stage hands interfering., She knew of no reason for the assault, but bad heard a rumor that the Le Bxuns were arrnoyed because witness wore a headdress in her act.

Sergeant Rowell: Is it a feather headdress like Mrs Le Bran's?— Witness: It's quite,different. They're not at all alike; besides, I've a right to wear a headdress. Had you heard anything before indicating that accused was likely to cause trouble? —The night before I heard him say: " I'll, show you what Australia can do to America."

Dr Theodore Endelletsberger stated that when he was called to attend Mrs Ermev he found she had a cut about 2-Jin long on the left side of her nose, a contusion above one eyebrow, and a severe hemorrhage on account of an artery in the nose having been cut. The woman was in a highly nervous condition, showing slight symptoms of concussion. He considered .the injuries could have been caused by a, severe blow from a fist or from a padded instrument. It' was very unlikely that they were caused by a fall down stairs at the Opera-house stage. In that case there would have been more abrasions on the face, and probably some on the hands and arms as well.

Ralph Ermey corroborated his v : fe's statement, adding that he caught his wife after she had been struck He was himself struck by Le Brun. When his wife recovered and ran away he was struck twice again by Le Brun—once when he was rising after having been down. Then some of the theatre staff came on the scene and held Le Brun. Witness had had no quarrel with the accused. After further evidence accused, who pleaded not guilty, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being allowed in one suretv of £3OO.