A BOGUS POLICEMAN.

Waikato Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1191, 6 August 1912, Page 3

A BOGUS POLICEMAN.

J. L. Toole played practical jokes [n some form or other on most of his actor-friends, and it is not surprising that on some few occasions the laugh was on their side.

A well-known actor tells the following story in this connection, which is well worth repeating. One day the comedian had a difference with a cabman on the question of the amount of a fare. The next day a <-ab drove up to the comedian’s door, and the driver, who was accompanied by a policeman, rang the bell, and asked to see Mr. Toole. On his reappearing the cabman excitedly pointed to him with the words

“Thefs the man ! That’s the man !”

The officer of the Jaw was respectful but firm.

“I’m afraid you will have to accompany me,” tin said to the irate actor. ‘T have a warrant for your arrest.”

There was nothing to be done, and so, without more ado, the three drove off, as Mr. Toole thought, to the po-lice-station. After a short drive they arrived at a small doorway in a ji-ack street, ami before the comedian oad realised what had happened, he was t/'rust inside by the. cabman and the policeman, and a second later found Infused in tlio smoking-room of a well-snown Bohemian club—the centre of an admiring crowd of professional acquaintances, who made no effort to conceal their enjoyment of the success of the trick which had been plajed on their brother actor.

The whole thins was a carefully planned practical joke, the cabman and policeman being no other than two well-known members of the profession Messrs. . Lionel Brough and Harry Nicholls. •

It is said that nobody enjoyed the humour of the situation more than the champion practical joker himself,