"WILD MAN."

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144071, 16 April 1913, Page 5

"WILD MAN."

V SHOW-MAX BEFORE THE ' . COURT. ! A case,' which caused ’considerable amusement, was heard at -the police court at WestVMaitland (.M.a.W.) last week, when Percy -William Stevenson was charged with having obtained the: sum of sixpence from Detective O’Red lv at Maitland showground by means of false pretences. Henry Joseph Lane was charged with aiding and abetting him. , • , The detective said both accused were engaged in running a side show.-on the showground. Stevenson was calling out ‘‘Como and see the wild man. He wo,s caught in Africa, but is kept deep down in a dungeon. The wild, man got loose last night and killed a bullock on the showground,” and, pointing to a bullock’s head, he said, ‘‘He is now feeding on the bones and flesh.” _ The" detective paid sixpence admission, and saw Lane lying down on some straw. Ho was fastened in a canvas packet, bad a wig on, and a set of false teeth, which protruded from bis mouth to give' him a, ferocious appearance. The whole thing was a fraud. . Both, men wore arrested and locked up. Stevenson said he had been allowed to show on Sydney and other showl grounds, and thought he was within his rights. The police .magistrate said that at show time people liked to be made fools of, and as accused both promised not to continue with the show, each was lined £1 or 14 clays. ,