ACTOR IN REAL DRAMA

NZ Truth, Issue 1103, 20 January 1927, Page 5

ACTOR IN REAL DRAMA

Theatrical Star For Trial On Grave Charge STORY OF CINEMA INCIDENT

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Wellington Representative.) QEORGE DESYLLA ZUOCO, 40 years of age, a prominent member of the Maurice Moscovitch theatrical company now touring New Zealand, has been committed for trial on a grave charge.

' f f "yr AST week, Zucco was arII raigned at the Wellington m%jn Magistrate's Court ,on a Jpi *-*f- charge of having committed <Mgm a certain act m the presence J3p§*> of two women at the New jwXiliw* Princess cinema. According to the evidence, two sisters, one of them married, witnessed a matinee performance at the New Princess. About 4 o'clock the lights went up and accused came m. During the course of her evidence the married woman said 3he took particular stock of Zucco, as he closely resembled a man she knew m Auckland. He took a seat a few rows to the rear of the two women, but after a time he came and sat next to them. The woman said there was no need for him to have done so, as there were plenty of vacant seats. The act complained of then took place, after which the women moved one seat along the row. This brought them right up to the wall "of the theatre. However, they made no further move, but waited there until they '■- had witnessed the full programme. Then, so the married woman stated, they made a movement to go out and accused committed a further act, for which he was rewarded by a smack over the head from the woman's purse. ZUOCO'S REPLY Complaint was made to the usher, who came down to where Zucco was sitting and flashed a torch m his face. After that the manager was appraised of the full circumstances, and he called the police. The other sister also gave evidence m support of the allegations. Zucco was talking to the manager ir/ the operating box when the

I constable arrived, and — on hearing the charge — accused said: "I don't understand how anybody could make such an allegation against me." He told the constable that after he had been m the theatre a while he fell asleep, and that so far as the alleged act was concerned, he had no knowledge of it. Two days afterwards Zucco was interviewed by Detective Cooper, to whom accused repeated his former statement. [ Chief Detective Ward asked Cooper whether he could see clearly when he first visited the theatre. Cooper said, he could, and that the light might be termed a good one. He then told the Court how an identification parade had been called. TWO WHISKIES Eight men of similar age, height, appearance, etc., to- the accused were lined up, Zucco being asked whether he took any objection to any of them: Having found no fault with the selection made by the police, Zucco took his stand among those of /the parade. The two sisters and the usher were then called m. Cooper told the Court that he informed Zucco of his having been recognized by the women, to which „he replied that he had no recollection of the occurrences. The detective further stated, . m reply to a question from the bench, that there could be no question of intoxication, as Zucco had only two whiskies prior to lunch. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial next month. Bail was allowed— £so m his own recognisance and a further surety of £50. '•