ENDURANCE PIANOPLAYING.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18230, 14 November 1924, Page 10

ENDURANCE PIANOPLAYING.

ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES.

(PEESS ASSOCIATION ' TELEGBi.It.)

WELLINGTON, November-13.

The hearing of the Montecino v. "Truth" case, a claim for £5Ol for alleged.defamatory statements, was continued in the Supreme Court to-day.

Leslie Rogera said he had known ilonteciao for lour years, and had, with two men named Blackie and Fleming, acted as an asoistant in the piano-playing endurance test. Two persona,. Land and "Richardson, were, employed by. the Carnival Committee. Witness ' said. Montecino did not play continuously. There .was more than one intermission. B'.ackie, Fleming', B. Anderson, and. witness also played. There were' also .'signals used—a hat. for "all right" ■ and a coatffor "no good." There was a man at the 'door and one inside. A touch of, the-hat meant that there was nobody about, and Montecino could go on sleeping. A touch of the coat.meant that there .was somebody , about and that ho hadi .to be wakened. The rest 3' took ]>lace at night, and Montecino : rested at the piano. Witness explained how - the watcher on behalf of the Carnival Committee was got out of the way. He'oould not get Montecino to sleep while he was about. Montecino asked him to go, but the' man said that he 'had missed the last; car, so Bla/ckic took him out to get piee. They were away about an hour' and three-quarters, ■■ and Montecino slept. Montecino was awakened when- the two were returning. - .Witness said he got 30s for a, write-up in a .-paper. He- wpuldnot Have gone-, to "Truth," hut a representative of "Truth" came, to him. Witness wanted to see Montecino carry out tho test. He had threatened Montecino that unless.' ho was paid, his wages he would . expose. , him in "Truth." He'would be surprised to know , that Montocino's firsts intimation that he had elept-dur-ing the test, v.'as. the .article he "Truth." ' - Montecino knew before. he .went to' the South Jsland.. On ono " occasion Montecino was. eo, Bound asleep that-he - was talking of fish and chips. , Montecino knew: all about. the hat', and coat signals. ' He sometimes ;,j>layed with his .fiats to give ?,his : finger® a rest.' ' / ■ . v; i Jeaac Go'dsmith/socrefcary of tho Brooklyn Carnival, Committee,,;whicihv iiad 'an arrangement with plaintiff''ft>r. a share.'of.'the proceeds of the piano?playing ' test, said the arrangement was that plaintiff should, have two' men .to look after his.interests, anif -tho Carnival Committee - two men." " Miwtecino complained of ono'of -tho' men. employed by the: committee, And. witness dispansedi with the/man's, services. 'Witness ' wis '"satisfied Montecino was honest /about the "gash; " • ; Kenneth Blackie, who- worked, for Montecino, said, that Mbnteoiiib alept iduring portions of the 100' hours. Witness played for him.

The hearing was adjounied till'to-morrow,