COMEDIAN HERO IN BEDROOM DRAMA

NZ Truth, Issue 1168, 19 April 1928, Page 8

COMEDIAN HERO IN BEDROOM DRAMA

Nat. Hanley Repels Midnight Intruders With Stage Revolver A "808 IN FOR DRINKS " AFTER THE SHOW (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Christchurch Representative.) A professional funny man is Nat. Hanley, Toho deals m laughs and humor m Fuller theatres. Fate made of him a comedian, and heavy roles m ponderous drama were not destined for Nat — at least, not on the stage.

BUT this professional laugh-maker can play heavy lead with the best of them, and, aa the hero of a bedroom drama, Hanley has received more publicity than he expected. When a revolver goes off accidentally m a hotel bedroom m the small hours of the night and two man scuttle out of range m fear of the seats of their trousers — if not their lives — something is bound to happen, as it did when Hanley fired the gun m the Wellington Hotel, Christchurch, the other night. His appearance before Magistrate Mosley, charged with presenting a revolver at a person, failing to register the weapon and with bringing it into the country without a license, provided the last act m a real thriller. Hanley was fined 20 shillings and costs on the minor charges, that of presenting the firearm being dismissed. As the theatre crowd filed out of the New Opera House after the show on Tuesday of last week, maybe they were still chuckling at the antics of Hanley, the funny man. Certainly he did not look the type of man who would stage a real life drama with a Tom Mix flavor to it. But such is life . . . The curtain had fallen on stageland. Nat Hanley strolled out of the stage door and crossed the road to the Wellington Hotel, where he was staying. Entering the hotel soon after 11 p.m., Hanley ran into a man named Harris, who was also boarding at the hotel. HANLEY AWAKENS A drink was suggested and as it seemed a good idea an adjournment was made to Harris' room, where two other men, whose names Hanley did not know, awaited them. Just to liven things up a bit, the novel idea of selling a horse — or "a bob m" — was decided upon, the winner to be chosen by the throwing of dice. The drinks were brought m by the licensee and paid for. Hanley then left the room, but returned later, when he found the other men still busily engaged m throwing dice. Harris asked Hanley to give him change for a five-pound note, as he had run out of silver and wanted to carry on the good work. Nat was only too pleased to oblige Harris and handed over the change. After a few diinks Hanley had seen enough of the game. He bid his friends good-night and went to bed. It was not long before the comedian was tucked up comfortably between the sheets and slumbering peacefully. But the stage was all set for the drama, although slumbering Nat was unconscious of the fact — then. Some time after midnight the comedian awoke with a start. Was he mistaken? But no; there was somebody m his room. Sleep vanished completely and the comedian wanted to know what it was all about. On went the lights and there stood the two men who had been with Harris. "What's the game, eh?" Hanley

wanted to know — and there were no beg-parelons about the tone of voice, either. The two intruders believed m calling a spade a spade and did not beat about the bush. "Come on," they croaked, "we want our cut out of that fiver." And they proceeded to allege that Hanley had acquired it from Harris by unfair means. Now Hanley can see a joke sooner than most people. Jokes are, his stock-in-trade, but he failed utterly to see just where the laugh came m. Then it was that the mantle of comedy fell from him and with flashing eyes he picked up the cloak of heavy drama. "Get out of this room!" he roared at the intruders, but they were loath to leave.

Still they persisted m their demands and the comedian-tragedian hopped out of bed. Standing handy to the bed was a chest of drawers and with. a jerk Hanley pulled one of them open. Thinking, no doubt, that a little cash to quieten them was coming their way via the drawer, the intruders looked on with interest. But only for a moment. Hanley wheeled round on them and the eyes of the strangers almost shot out of their heads. They stood rooted to the spot, for they could hardly believe the evidence of their own eyes. Both of them were staring openmouthed at a smart-looking revolver which Hanley held m businesslike fashion m his right hand. "Now, will you get out?" he demanded. And then it happened. Hanley thought he was putting up a very pretty bluff with the gun, which he did not know was loaded. However,, the next moment nobody I m the room had any doubt whatever

about the gun, for m the excitement it "went off." They who had come for their "cut of Hanley's fiver" did not stand upon the order of their going. They simply fled from the room, scared out of their wits, ignorant of the fact that the cartridge which had scared about seven years' growth out of them was only a blank after all. As it happened, nobody came to investigate the shot, nor did Hanley think it necessary to go out and explain matters to the licensee. But some time 'later the comedian heard a bit of a noise which he imag- t ined was due to the two intruders be-* ing tipped out of the hotel by the licensee. Amazed at the suggestion of the two men that he had obtained the fiver from Harris "by unfair means," Hanley sought out Harris and was assured by him that he had obtained the fiver m a proper manner. Harris .said he certainly had not been "taken down." That ended part one of the episode, but the police got wind of the affair and a few inquiries were made. Chief Detective Carroll told the court that a diligent search for the two men who had entered Hanley's room .had been unsuccessful, but Harris — when interviewed about the matter — made no mention whatever of having been "taken down" over the fiver. HE SMILES AGAIN And so Nat Hanley came to court. Lawyer K. M. Gresson, who appeared for the comedian, explained that the revolver was part of Hanley's theatrical equipment. Three days after his arrival m Christchurch he called at the Arms office to register the revolver, but he was told to call again. He did not do so, owing 1 to a misunderstanding on his part, Hanley being under the impression that the police would notify him when they had been m communication with the Customs. In any case, he had not used ' the weapon for his stage work. Magistrate Mosley commented that it was very important that all firearms should be declared, especially pistols and revolvers. So far as the main charge was concerned, the only evidence before the court was Hanley's own admissions m his statement. What he said about not presenting the revolver at the men would be accepted. "I am not going to convict him on a charge of presenting a loaded revolver, but I must say that It is very necessary that all records of firearms, regardless of whether they are iheatriJ cal property or not, should be kept." ! That charge was dismissed. On the other two charges Hanley was fined a total of 20 shillings. The revolver was ordered io beconfiscated. "1 think you are well rid of it," remarked the magistrate. "You are right, sir, I am," replied Hanley, as — his face once more wreathed m smiles — he left the court.