Punching the Models.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3676, 28 February 1899, Page 3

Punching the Models.

SCENES IN A WAXWORK SHOW’. A very amusing case, in which the head of the late poet Laureate played an important part, occupied the attention of Mr Curtiss Bennet, at Marylebone police court, London, on January 7,. Before tho court was a youth named Benjamin Bartin, of 21, Barrett street, Oxford street, who was summoned by Walter Stiff, .a wax-figure maker and the proprietor of a waxworks exhibition in the Edgware road, for maliciously damaging “ one wax head, worth £2O, by breaking it.”—Mr F. Freke falmer, solicitor, Was fpr the defence. —The complaintant produced a bundle of wax and hair'which he said was up to last Boxing Day an excellent model of tho late Lord Tennyson, for which he gave £2O.- Tho figure formed part of ajt'pKhibition in the Edgware road. —Mr''Freke ' Palmer': ’That is "a penny gaff, isn’t it?—Tho Witness: No; a penny Waxwork exhibition.—Anyway, you pay a.penny to enter?—Witness t Yes; to go inj-and 3d to come out (laughter),— Ob 1 a sort of rat trap ?., (Great laughter). —Witness:, They have to pay a penny; to go in,'a penny for the’chainbor of horrors, and a penny tor the catalogue:—Mr Freke Palmer:) Was .Lord Tennyson’s head, pqt in the 'chamber of horrors?—Witness; No, in the Royal chamber, uecause he was a lord/(laughter).—Sidney Plant, tho attendant at; the exhibition, said,that about half-pjast eight on the night of Boxing Day bis attention was drawn to a disturb-/ anqe Which was going on on the first floor.; He'hurried upstairs, and on entering tjie ■room, be beheld • about 15 young men punching the figures with all their might and|maini—The Magistrate: What do youf mean P—Witness: Sparring up to thefn and hitting them with their fists as hard afL they could (laughter). , The defendant, he continued, was one of them. He asked them to leave off, and go out, but they said they .would do as they pleased with the figures, and continued to punch them. , He accordingly of them and put them out. As he was; taking the fourth through the Royal chamber, the whole of the gang set upon him, and while he was endeavouring to keep.them at bay he saw the defendant deliberately take off the head of Lord Tenhyson and “ dhuck ” it at him. It • broke in pieces on the floor. All. the gang then rushed out of the exhibition Cross-examined by Mr hr eke Palmer-. Have yox\ told the magistrate everything ? Yes, except . —Mr Freke Paliner: Yes, except that the defendant cave you in charge for styiKinghim on the head ‘ with a; hamffidif“hhcl,, splitting bis .head open—Tho witness replied,that the defendant did not appear against him, and he was discharged.—John Moseley, of Compton road, Tottenham, the manager of the exhibition, having given eni- ! dence, Mr Curtis Bennett adjourned l,he case tor the attendance of a witness i’or the complainant. .