VARIETY ARTIST CHARGED WITH ASSAULT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 62, 7 December 1920, Page 8

VARIETY ARTIST CHARGED WITH ASSAULT

LE BRUN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. By Telegraph-Pram nootatlon. Auckland, December 6. A vaudeville artist, Louis Lo Bran, aged 32, came before Mr. Poynton, S.M., to-day on a charge that on November 24 ho assaulted Alice Ermey so as to cauao her actual bodily harm. The circumstances surrounding the charge, stated Sergeant Howell, involved four variety artists, Mr. and Mrs, Lo Brim and Mr. and Mrs. Erinoy. On November 24, when Ermey and his wife wero practising their turn at Fuller's Opera House, it was alleged that they wore attacked by Le Brun. Alice Violet Ermey stated that sho was on the steps loading from tho dressing rooms to the stage when Lo Bran called from his dressing room door, "Just a minute. I want to talk to you," adding, to her husband, "and I'll talk to you afterwards." She went down the steps, and just as alio got to' tho foot Le Brum struck her a blow in the face and knocked her into her husband's armß. When 6he recovered from her dizziness she ran upstairs, followed by Mrs. Lo Brun, who came behind her in a threatening manlier. When witness got to the stage sho saw Do Wilfred practising orf the xylophone, and sho cnlled to him to summon the police. She then ran down tho steps and saw her husband and Le Brun engaged in a corner, with some stage hands interfering. Sho knew of no reason for tho assault, but had heard a rumour that tho Le Bruns were annoyed because witness wore a headdress in her act. Sergeant Rowell: Is it a feather headdress like Mrs. Le Brun's? Witness:' It's quito different, They're not- at nil alike. Besides. I've a right to wear a headdress. Had you heard anything before indicating that accused was likely to cause trouble?—" The night 'before I heard him say, 'I'll show you what Australia can do to America.'" Dr. Theodore Endletsberger stated that when he was callcd to attend Mrs. Ermey he found she had a cut about 2} inchrs long on tfie left 6ido of her nose, a contusion above one eyebrow, and severe haemorrhage on account of nn artery In the nose having been cut. Tho woman wan in a highly nervous condition. showing slight symptoms' of w>ncussion. He considered that tho injuries "could have been caused by a severe blow from a first or from a Uaddod instrument. It was very unlikely that the injuries could be caused by s fall down the stairs at the Opera House stage. _ In that case there would be more abrasions on the face, and probably some on tho hnnds or arms as well Ralph Ermev corroborated his wife s statement, adding that as he cnimht his wife after she had been struck he was himself struck by Le Brun. When his wife recovered and ran away ho was struck twice again by Le Brun. once ivhen witness was rising after having boon down. Then some of the theatre staff enmo or the scone and held J.o Bni». Witness had hod no quarrel with To "Brun. , , 1 'After further evidence hnd been henrd, licensed, who pleaded not suiifr. nnmmitted to the Snnreme Court foi trial, bail being allowed in one surety of