“LOVE ON THE DOLE”

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 January 1936, Page 11

“LOVE ON THE DOLE”

MENTIONED IN ALLEGED FRAUDS

LONDON, December 7.

Alleged proposals that a young man who wanted to go on the stage should finance the play “Love on the Dole” and a revue were mentioned at Feltham, Middlesex, yesterday, when Arthur Arnold Brookes, 58, a business negotiator, made a further appearance. He was charged with obtaining three cheques—one for £l,OOO and two for £5O0 —by false pretences from Mr. John Evered at Sunbury, and converting to his own use one of the £5OO cheques which had been given to him to pay a deposit on the lease of the Lyceum Theatre. Mr. I-I. A. K. Morgan, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said when Mr. Evered, who was 28, first met Brookes he was training to become a civil air pilot. He paid the first £1,500 in the belief that he was getting an interest in the play “Love on the Dole,” and the last £5OO for a production known as “The Bodyline Revue.”

A man named Frank Rubens, who had known Brookes for some time, was general manager for B. Feldman and Company, Mr. Morgan continued, thought Brookes was a likely man to find the money for getting the play “Love on the Dole” on in London.

“A unique opportunity to participate in a show now playing with huge success,” was advertised. Mr. Evered replied and went with Brookes to a bungalow at Riverside, Sunbury, where he was introduced to a woman called Joan who, Brpokes said, was his daughter. Brookes said .he had secured the London rights of “Love on the Dole, ' and that further capital was required. He/ also said that a part was being reserved for his daughter, and’Evered was offered a part. A cheque for £l,OOO which Evered handed over later was paid into Brookes’s account, which at the time amounted to £2 3/4, Mr. Morgan continued.

Rubens found on inquiry that nothing could be done, and told Brookes so. That finished the matter as far as Rubens was concerned.

On September 23, said Mr. Morgan, Brookes with Joan visited Evered at his flying school, and said he had' secured the lease of the Theatre. On October 14 Evered sent Brookes a cheque for £5OO. Later Brookes said he could not get the Lyceum, but would negotiate for another theatre. He did not mention that Rubens had said the whole deal was off.

Evered had become very attached to the girl Joan, and they became engaged. Evered went to Switzerland and on his return Brookes for the first time told him that the “Love on the Dole” deal had fallen through. Evered was told that his money was quite safe.- He advanced a further £5OO and, after a revue had gone into rehearsals, another £5OO. POLICEMAN IN REVUE. Evered had a part in the revue at £6 a week which he drew for four or five weeks. That was all lie got back of his £2,050. In the reVue he played the parts of a policeman, a cricketer and a small boy.

George Henry Barrasford, general manager for Vernon Lever Produc-

tions, and Bert Feldman, proprietor of B. Feldman and Co., music publishers, of Shaftesbury Avenue, said they did hot know Brookes and had never had any negotiations with him about “Love on the Dole.”

Bert Hammond, of Penton Hook, Staines, business manager to Walter and Frederick Melville, proprietors of the Lyceum Theatre, said he did not know Brookes, and had no negotiations with anyone but the Vfernon Lever Productions with regard to “Love on the Dole.”

John Evered, of Heathfield Road, Battersea, said he believed Brookes when he said he had secured the rights to produce the show in London. , , '

Evered said that' since the arrest of Brookes he had discussed the case with Joan. There had been iio suggestion that, he should Withhold his evidence. Their engagement had been broken off.

Herbert Francis Ellis,, professionally known as Frank Reubens, general manager for B. Feldman and Co., said he had oeen associated with Brookes in running midget golf courses. He told him that there was a fortune in “Love on the Dole.” Brookes later said he had the money and they could go ahead. But a letter from Mr. Barrasford caused witness to drop out.

Brookes was committed for trial at the Old Bailey. He pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was allowed bail.