A TRAVELLING SHOW.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12930, 7 December 1912, Page 3

A TRAVELLING SHOW.

CHARGE DISMISSED

Tho troubles of a travelling theatrical show doing the "smalls" of the Domin- 1 ion resulted in a charge being preferred at the Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, against Harold Richard Peard. 19 years of ag<>, of having at Methven'on November 23 stolen a watch and chain, valued at- £5, tho property of Walter Breamer. Walter McKiver, known in the transaction?, with Peard as Walter Breamer, said that he was an electrician by trade, and on the stage was a sleight-of-hand entertainer. Peard put in £15, and they agreed to go together. They first went to Methven to show, and on the evening of the entertainment Peard was selli ing tickets at the door. In an interval witness saw people struggling at the door, and on going there found that Peard had disappeared. Witness had been getting dressed for the stage, when Peard asked for the loan of his chain. When he disappeared witness followed him by motor to Ashburton. This was the first time he had seen tho accused since tho night of tho concert. The value of the watch and chain was about £5. The performance at Methven was the first and only performance. When the accused took the funds away from the show at Methven it had to disband. The accused had given witness £25, he himself having £10 or £1.5, with which to run the show. The two girls in t_he company had not been paid at all for their services, and had returned to Christchurch.

Harold Richard Peard stated that he received a letter from Breamer, who said he had a picture business which was doing well, and that ho. was looking for a partner to take charge of the front of the house at the different entertainments. Witness went to Wellington to see Breamer, and made the varoius arrangements with him. When they got to Methven he discovered that he was working for a bogus company, which changed its name at nearly every place it visited. Breamer had said to him that they would play for 'two nights in Methven and then get out early without paying anybody. The pianist had come to witness and told him that he did not like to see anyone losing his money without getting a run for it, and that Breamer was in negotiation with a man in Timaru for funds, in the same manner as his had been provided. He told witness that when they reached the Bluff Breamer was going to clear out from New Zealand. The pianist had come to witness again before the show and- told him that the numbers of the tickets had been altered, and that his takings at the door would not correspond with that denoted by the ticktets. Witness took £6 5s at the door. He had never asked Breamer forTthe loan of his chain, nor had he had the watch and chain in his possession.

The case was dismissed