EXPENSIVE HOAX

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21716, 3 February 1934, Page 2 (Supplement)

EXPENSIVE HOAX

STORY OF "ESCAPED LION" TERROR-STRICKEN PEOPLE TWO MEN TO PAY FINES Incidents connected with the reported escape of a lion in West Sussex which, it was alleged, spread terror in the neighbourhood, caused considerable interest and no little amusement at the Lewes Assizes in December. Tho following were charged beforo Mr. Justice Charles:—William Edmund But!in, aged 33, amusement caterer; Clifford Stanley Joste, aged 33 his manager; Allen lieslio Proctor, aged 26, stated to be a decorator; John Waller Wenslcy, aged 55, farmer. They pleaded not guilty to an indictment which alleged conspiracy and that their conduct had caused police officers to devote their time and services to the investigation of a false report that a lion had escaped from a motorvehicle at Clymping and had killed and mauled a sheep. The case for the Crown, conducted by Mr. John Flowers, K.C., was that in connection with the removal of one of Butlin's shows from Skegness to Bognor a rumour spread that a lion had escaped. Joste told Inspector Couzens that it was true, and Proctor, who assisted his father, a newspaper correspondent, got Wenslcy to order his shepherd to kill a sheep, mutilate the carcase and put it behind a hedge, the idea being to represent that it had been killed and mauled by a lion. Alarm in the .District The report that a lion was at larg-3 was confirmed by Butlin. It caused terror among women and children in tho district, and a number of policemen were employed in the search. There were amusing interludes in the case. Mr. J. D. Cassels, K.C., who represented Butlin, asked Constable Noel Smith what steps he would have taken if ho had encountered the lion, and then suggested the answer, "Pretty long ones." Mr. Flowers was moved to quote from " Tho Mikado " when alluding to Mr. Cassels' speech: There's an eloquent outpouring When a lion is a-roaring And a tiger is a-lashirg o' his tail. A witness who played • bowls while the lion was supposed to be at large was described by the Judge as "a regular Sir Francis Drake." Butlin declared that he honestly thought a lion had escaped, but afterwards found that it had not left Skegness. Joste stated that he received a telephone message that a lion was at large and communicated with Butlin. It was not a publicity " stunt." " Stupid and Misguided " Counsel for Joste contended that there was no evidence against him. The Judge ruled that there was no case against Butlin or Joste on the public mischief charge. Counsel for Proctor subitted that his action was nothing more than a stupid and misguided joke of - which ho had had full opportunity to repent. Wensley's counsel remarked that it was an unfortunate thing for him that he fell in with Proctor. Butlin and Joste were found " Not guilty " on both charges. Proctor and Wensley were found not guilty of conspiracy, but guilty of committing a mischief. Proctor was fined £3O and ordered to pay a share of the costs. Wensley was fined £lO. In imposing tho fines tho Judge remarked that tho men had been found guilty of a very mischievous and foolish course of conduct which had caused a great deal of unnecessary trouble.