TRUTH SUED.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 November 1924, Page 9

TRUTH SUED.

PIANIST’S CLAIM. further Evidence. (by telegraph—press association. WELLINGTON, Nov. 13. The hearing of the Mo'ntecino-Truth case, a claim for £5Ol for alleged defamatory statements, was continued in the Supreme Court to-day. Leslie Rogers said he had known Montecino for four years, and had. with two men named Blackie and Fleming, acted as assistant in the piano playing endurance test. Tv’o persons, Lang and Richardson, were employed by the Carnival Committee. Witness said that Montecino did not play continuously. There was more than one intermission. Blackbell, Fleming, Anderson and witness also played. There were signals used, “hat” for all right and “coat” for ho good. There was a man at the door and one inside. A touch of a hat meant that there was nobody about and Montecino could go on sleeping. A touch of the. coat meant that there was somebody about, and he had to lie wakened. The rests took place at night, and Montecino retsed at the piano. Witness explained how a w atcher on behalf of the Carnival Committee was got out of the way Trn?-T C °uld n °t catch Montecino asleep. While he was about Montecino asked him to go, but the man said he had missed the last ear, so Blackbell took him out to get pies. They were away about an hour and three-quarters, and Montecino slept. Montecino w T as awakened when the two were returning. Witness said he got 30s for a write up” in a paper. He would not have gone to Truth, but the representative of Truth came to him. Witness wanted to see Montecino oarrv out the test.

t i Later. In the Monteeino-Truth case—(referred to on page 5) —witness continued that he had threatened Montecino that unless he got paid his wages he would expose him in Truth. He would be surprised to know that Monfecino’s first intimation that he had slept during the test was the artiete he saw in Truth. Montecino knew before he went to the South Island. On one occasion Montecino was so sound asleep that he was talklng of fish and chips. Montecino knew all about the hat and coat signals. He sometimes played with his fists to give his fingers a rest. Isaac Goldsmith, secretary of the Brooklyn Carnival Committee, which had an arrangement with plaintiff for a share in the proceeds of the piano playing test,. said the arrangement iv as that plaintiff should have two men .to look after his interests and the Oar nival Committee two men. Montego, contained of one of the men employed by the committee, and wit-T-£?f..te?9«hsed with the man’s serices. Witness was satisfied Montecino was honest about the cash.