ACTOR WAS IN FETTERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17832, 28 April 1926, Page 11

ACTOR WAS IN FETTERS.

SAVED BY TAPE, AFTER SORRY PLIGHT. “Can you get these handcuffs off, please ?” This was the unusual request made at midnight to a constable at Willesden Green Police Station by a har-assed-looking individual who displayed a securely-manacled right hand with the other “iron” dangling from it. Satisfied as to the bona fides of the stranger, who said he had travelled half across London, the constable tried with sundry keys to release him, and failed. Then another constable and a sergeant tried, but they both failed. Having tried all the keys in the station, they bundled the stranger off in a taxi to the next police station at Ilarlesdon. They took the precaution of telephoning Ilarlesden of what to expect. This was a wise move, for, with the light behind him, the stranger might well have been mistaken for a wellknown prisoner from Maidstone. The unfortunate man with the handcuffs was actually Mr Robert Cunningham, the operatic singer and actor, and his predicament was the result of a stage mishap at the Q Theatre, Kcw. Relating his adventure to a “Daily ( Chronicle” representative, Mr Cunningham said: “In the show I play the part of Detect! ve-Scrgeant Crealock, and in the last act I am handcuffed and then released. On this particular night the lock of the right handcuff refused to open, and so I had to play through the act with the ‘irons’ dangling from my hand. “After the show the property man, the stage manager and a constable all tried to release me, and. when they failed, we sent for the inspector from Brentford. But the lock would not open. “My chief anxiety was to catch my last train to Brondesbury, so I left the theatre still handcuffed, but with hand and handcuffs deep in my overcoat pocket. An actress in the company was travelling by the same train, and she bought my ticket and lit my pipe for me. I dared not show the ‘irons’ in public. “I taxied from Brondesbury to Willesden Green Police Station, but they sent me on to Ilarlesden. There, all sorts of keys were tried, but without success. “Then the inspector had a brainwave. Suspecting that the thread of the lock was worn, he tied a piece of tape round the key to make it grip. “He}', presto! I was a free man again! "I wish they had thought of tape sooner,” ruefully added Mr Cunningham.

A start was made yesterday morning with the erection of a new railway station at Moana on the site recently occupied by the old station, which was destroyed by fire about a fortnight ago. So far it has not been decided whether the new station will include refreshment rooms.