DEFAULTING THEATRICALS.

Wanganui Chronicle, 23 November 1901, Page 2

DEFAULTING THEATRICALS.

SUDDEN FLIGHT OF THE COSGROVE COMPANY. I CREDITORS LEFT LAMENTING. IN PURSUIT OF THE DEBTORS. FUNNY INCIDENT ON FORDELL RAILWAY STATION. The Cosgrove's Dramatic season came to ( a, hasty conclusion. It was announced that the season, which was originally for a week, ending this evening, was to be extended for thiree nights, which would have terminated the season on Wednesday evening next. The announcement, however, must have been what is commonly known as bluff, and in the light of yesterday's events would appear to hay» been made more with the intention of "putting off" anxious creditors than of really prolonging the season. To put it briefly, me company "skipped" ycstero.ay, leaving behind them a lot of unsettled accounts and quite a number of justly-irate creditors. Indeed, it would appear that with the exception of the rent of the Opera. House, not a single account incurred by the management in connection with the Wanganui visit was paid, laud'.ordf, boarding-house keepers, stage hands, artist, and others all being victimised. The Cosgro)ves, however, did not succeed in getting away just as quietly as they might have wished. Xews of the impending" flight got wind yesterday morning, and several creditors immediately siet about putting the law in motion, with a view to preventing their departure. The Cosgroves apparently scented danger, and in turn laid themselves out to circumvent their pursuers. The story, as told by some,of this creditors, is chat the principals first fixed upon the Avanioho junction as the point of departure, and accordingly took a cab up to the junction, and ordered lunch at the Anunoho Hotel. Hearing of their game, die bailiff and same of the creditors folowed them in hot haste. On reaching Aramoho they learned that the birds had itywn, leaving the ordered lunch untouched. Inquiries elicited the information that the Co.'ig-roves were driving out to Fardell with the intention of joining the train there. Incidentally it is reported that the cabby, when half way to Fordell, behtought him of Ms fare, and called upon the occupants of the vehicle to "square up." The occupants tried their strong card, bluff, and it is said threatened to chastise the cabby if he didn't drive on. But the Jehu had the whig hand. He told them that they could go ahead with their punching, but he wouldn't budge another iiicli! ufltil he was paid. A pound note was unwillingly handed over, and the party proceeded! lo Fordell. Here a. sur. prise awaited the Messrs. Cosgrove. A number jotf creditors, determined not to be "done" if possible, met the defaulting gentlemen on the station platform, and the subsequent interview resulted in one of the funniest of funny incidents. The dialogue, as might have been expected, was of a, sultry character, and the remarks of the disguested creditors were anything but complimentary to the theatricals. No money was forthcoming, and the bailiff, who had gone Out with- the creditors, served eight summonses] upon the two Cosgroves. Mr. Neville Thornton, the well Known scenic artist, was among the creditors on the platform, and he, it is understood, was trying to prevent the elder Cosgrove from proceeding on his journey, when the "property" man came to the rescue. Th:B gentleman was, however, quickly placed hors de combat by Mr. Thornton. Shortly afterwards the whistle sounded, and something in the nature of a tug-of-war ensued, the Cosgroves ultilnate'ly being hauled aboard the train by other- members of the company, Hie incident, wlfich must have been highly amusing to those o» the train, had not yet closed. Insult had yet to be added to injury, and the last the creditors saw and beard was Cosgrove the elder leaning out of the carriage) platform, waving his "blue paper," aud calling "Good-bye boys!" The creditors returned to town, and the next scene opened in the courthouse, where the coses ugainst the defaulting theatricals* were called on. Here> the solemn farce of "calling" the defendants was enacted, the healing of each summons being preceded by the call -"John Cos- j grove, -'John Cosgrove, John Cosgrove," followed by the inevitable "No appearance, yer Worship!" Judgment was-of course given for tho plaintiffs in each case/with an 1 order for immediate execution, followed by the issue of distress warrants. The cases were a.s follows: C. G. Beckett i (Dannevirke) v. W. and J. Cosgrove, claim IJEJ4 45., -with costs 20s. j Win. E. Andrews (DanneVirke), claim £5 Bs., with costs 355. 6d.; Wanganui "Chronicle" Company, claim £11 14s. 6d., with costs 225. 6d.; F. G. Faber,, claim £10 11s. 6d., with costs 225. 6d.; P. E. Dover, claim £2 55., with costs 225.; B. T. Bennett, claim £4 Is., with costs 225.; C. Atkinson, claim j £1, with costs 175.; and Wanganui Wanganu'i "Herald" Company, claim £5 4s. 6d., with costs 355. 6d. Mr. W. J. Treadwell "Appeared for plaintiffs in all I cases, except that of the "Herald" Company, in which Mr. Barnicoat appeared. ] Armed with tlie distress warrants, an officer of the Court proceeded in chaye.of the defendants, and it was expected that he would overtake them, and distrain on their effects either at Palmerston N.ortß or Wellington. It is such tricks as these which may fairly be described as unprincipled, which bring disgrace and" discredit upon the profession, and prevent worthy and deserving member*! of such from receiving a helping hand from the Press and others.