YESTERDAY’S NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 3133, 5 March 1873, Page 3

YESTERDAY’S NEWS.

Several erroneous paragraphs have appeared relative to the case of the notorious Cyrus Haley for the late attempted escape. Haley was charged, before the Visiting Justices, on Thursday afternoon last, with throwing a quantity of pepper into the eyes of Warder Hagan, with a view to effect Lis escape. Prisoner pleaded guilty. The Justices, in accordance with the gaol regulations, sentenced him to be kept in solitary confinement, on bread and water, for three months, in periods of one mouth, at intervals of at least one month each. Prisoner has been put in irons by order of His Honor the Superintendent, in accordance with delegated powers from his Excellency the Governor. The official account of the Na«cby affair is os follows On the afternoon of tho Ist inst., two men, named Mornington and Eicbards, when coming across the gully from the township, and being under tho influence of liquor, met a man named John Gleeson coming down the gully, carrying a bundle of scrub; and after having some words with him, they commenced to fight. When a few blows had been exchanged, Gleeson knocked Mornington down, and then went away to his but, close by. Some men who had seen the fight, and not observing Mornington getting up, went to where he was lying, and on lifting him, found him to be in a dying state. Dr Dick was sent for, and on reaching the spot, ordered his removal to a tent, where, on examining him, be pronounced him to be dead. Sergeant M'Clusky adds : —“ In November, 1871, Gleeson was forwarded from Nascby to Dunedin under a charge of lunacy, and on his being discharged from the Asylum about six months past, returned to Naseby, and has since several times from his acts appeared not to he quite rational. In consequence of complaints having been made about his making threats towards persons about the place, he has kept him under surveillance, and has had 8‘ veral conversations with him, and spoke to Mr Eobinaon, R. M., on the 28th ulfc., about the man; but neither that gentleman nor I believed the man should again be locked up.” The threatening state of the weather, last evening, no doubt, accounted for tho thin attendance at the Princess Theatre. The comedy of “ Quits, or an Old Score,” and the farce of “ Rheumatism and Spiritualism,” composed the entertainment. The former, though free from sensational situations, contains scenes not only exciting and interest ing, but truthful to life. The plot is indicate to a degree, and the interest of the observer is maintained from the rising of the curtain to the close of the piece -not by drawing on the imagination, as in sensational drama, but by presenting pictures of everyday life familiar to all Englishmen. The principal parts of the comedy were allotted to Mrs Walter Hill and Mr Douglas, and excellently well they performed their task. The former pourtrayed the part of a young, cold, calculating, and accomp idled, but truthful woman whose temper was soured by adversity, und whose nature was warped by the hollow life surrounding her. She looked the part, and played it with a degree of judgment, care, and finish sufficient to stamp her not only an accomplished artiste, but a close observer of human nature. The turns and fancies, the unaccountable likes and dislikes, and the hopes and fears of youthful female life were forcibly, truthfully, and vivaciously pourtrayed. In short, her delineation of the character was hncxcep 4 jona\)ly excellent. Mr Ppuglqs, tjrpugh he scarcely looked the part of an" aged man, browned by a tropical spn, played most admirably, and carried ihe sympathies of the audience with him throughout. His conception of the character was correct, but his youthful appearance somewhat weakened the effect of his performance. He w.as, however, pleasing, enter faiping, ans gentlemanly. ’ Ip pie ’ last sqepe, where, as Casby, pe discloses vile conclpct of Colonel Caltiy-rp, he eloqiupt, and playeq as one who experienced |he sentiments of the character be was representing, and was deservedly appended. Mr Collie’-, as the careless, fast, but honorable young man, was excellent. He succeeded in depicting truthfully and forcibly many incidents in early Me worthy of imitation ; w'hile Mias Lizzie Bushe, as a governess, appeared to greater advantage than we have hitherto seen. Bhe had a part for which she is suited, and represented it without exaggeration, but with taste and address. Mr Musgrave, as a money-lending Jew, was very amusing, while Mr Hill, in the character of an eccentric footman, was exceedingly humorous. Bis solemn drollery kept the house in laughter all the time he walked the boards. Mr Clinton and Mr Lystcr were cast for parts less consonant with their capacity as actors than many others in which we have seen them. Still they deserve praise for the manner in which they delivered themselves. The latter has recently shown a marked improvement in his acting. Altogether the performance is one of the most complete and entertaining of the kind produced at this place of amusement. Jhe afterpiece “ Rheumatism and Spiritualism,” although not new, has not been played in Dunedin for several years, and has all the freshness of a new piece. It is peculiarly applicable ju-'t now wljen Spiritualism attracts so pinch attrition, aud it afforus poipp due to the possible rno .it.* operandi of many of the miracles claimed for the hew and beautiful faith. As all will expect, there is much extravagance in the matter, Mr t l asy, represented by Mr Musgrave, is a believer in Spiritualism, and advantage is taken of his faith by his daughter Amelia (Miss Willis) to get rid of a suitor she does not like, Mr Quince (Mr Clinton), and to secure her lover, Adolphus Courtley (MrTnglis). The pbief acfpr ini this plot is Joe Sprouts, a costermonger (Mr Hill), who personatej a pr-fesaor of electro-biology.' Table-turning, spirit-rapping, ami spirit presence, are represented—burlesqued, of course —but perhaps they deserve no better. The whole affair is exceedingly clever, exceedingly well performed, exceedingly funny, and well worth seeing.' Diis eyoning, fhe melodrama of *i The Mistletoe Bough” aud the farce of last evening will be presented.