CHARGES BY ARTIST.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 361, 21 February 1914, Page 4 (Supplement)

CHARGES BY ARTIST.

VARIETY AGENT’S LICENCE REFUSED.

SAID TO HAVE ARRANGED A “QUICK MARRIAGE.”

In the role of a witness Miss Irma Lorraine proved as entertaining as she is as a living picture artist, says a London paper. At the L.C.C. Public Control Committee she opposed Mr. Adolph of a licence for the International TheIsenthal’s application for the renewal atrical and Variety Agency, of Holm-wood-road, Brixton. When the application first came before the committee Miss Lorraine opposed it on the ground that Mr. Isenthal was not a fit and proper person to carry on a music-hall agency. She also said she would try to prove that he was using his business only as a cloak to carry on various businesses, including that of a detective agency. She made allegations against his conduct at the time when she obtained a divorce against her husband, Mr. Joe O’Gorman, the Irish comedian. She stated that he had tried to act for both of them, and told her he would get ce«tain witnesses out of the country for a consideration. .Miss Lorraine now stated that one of her first dealings with Isenthal related to his offer to get her a substantial abatement on her income tax for £5 which, he explained, would be necessary to bribe the official responsible. She went to the Surveyor of Taxes and asked whether she could get better terms by going to him direct ard giving him the £5, or by acting through Mr. Isenthal. (Laughter.) She was told that she could get better terms by dealiag direct. The surveyor added, “He never 'bribes me; whatever money he takes in that respect he takes for himself.” (Laughter.) Three or four years ago Isenthal had something to do wim the marriage of a couple—(the girl she knew) —who could not get married quickly enough on the Continent. “So they came to England,” she said, “where you

CAN GET MARRIED VERY QUICK.”

(Laughter.) “They got into touch with Isenthal,” explained the witness; “were over here a few hours; got married, and went back again.” (Laughter.) 'iheti she had dealings with him in connection with the sketch, “A Night in a Harem.” Miss Lorraine then raa’de a series of allegations against Isenthal. These were :

That he had told her that he could not make a living by his theatrical agency alone; That he got people free from German military service for money; That he obtained a reduction in the period of the quarantine of perfo’-m--ing dogs from six months to three months for money; That he acted improperly as n private detective by acting for both parties at the same time; That he did some money-lending business.

—Mr. William Berol, chairman of the International Artistes’ Lodge, of Ger-rard-street, said he knew Mr. Tsenthal approached artiste arriving in England who were not familiar with the customs of the country and told them he was an agent, but “did anything but agency work.” He had neither the confidence of the managers nor the artists. Witness was there in the interests of the artists—not because of his friendship with Miss Lorraine.—-Mr. Isenthil, giving evidence, said he came to England in 1900 from Berlin, where he had a private inquiry office. He denied emphatically that he had done any detective work for either Mr. O’Gorman or Miss Lorraine, and also refuted the other allegations. Speaking of the marriage referred to. he said two foreign artists came to him, and explained that they wanted to get married. They could not speak English, and he went to the registrar’s office and arranged it all for them, and that was all. (Laughter.)—. Miss Lorraine: And the commission? Mr. Isenthal (heatedly): T ask, do you work for nothing?—The committee after a brief deliberation, decided that the licence could not be renewed. Mi - . Percy Simmons (chairman) jn giving the decision, stated that a great deal of the evidence on both sides had had Ito be ignored. The grounds of the decision would be stated in a letter.