GOOD MEN AND TRUE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue I, 7 January 1899, Page 32

GOOD MEN AND TRUE.

One of the most amusing yet unexpected. sensation scenes ever witnessed in a theatre occurred once at the Theatre Royal, Manchester. The curtain drew up for Mr Toole to address the court re Bardell v. Pickwick, when suddenly the jury mysteriously disappeared, the bottom of their box having fallen out. At first the audience were silent, fearing some dreadful accident had occurred. But as the unlucky jurymen reappeared unhurt, though looking foolish, they broke out into a perfect hurricane of laughter, which lasted several minutes. The curtain had to be dropped to allow the jury o be ‘boxed’ again, and when Mr Toole began his address he provoked another burst of risibility by alluding to the jury as ‘that worthy body of steadfast and immovable men.’