The Grattan Riggs Company

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 87, 21 January 1892, Page 3

The Grattan Riggs Company

MrHrntlan "Riggs will perform in Feilding on Thursday, the 28th instant, in the Assembly Kooms, when he will appear in his famous character of " The Irish Octectire." The Company played in New Plymouth to splendid houses, and the Taranaki Herald says :— " Mr Riggs 1 received n most enthusiastic reception, i and deservedly so. as his acting in the manj characters he impersonated as the . detective was of an exceptionally high ', order with respect to merit. Before deal ' ing with the cast, it might not be amiss to. five a short outline of the plot of - The Irish Detective." one of the nio4 popular plays of the time. The drama is in three acts. Mr Elton, a sharebroker, : elc-. in New York, has in his employ Iwo clerks — William Hoyte and Richard Stockton The latter becomes embarrassed through his Rambling proclivities, and helps himself to his master's money, which he is unable to replace by the time detection is almost certain. Driven to desperation, he attempts to rob his maaler's safe of ail valuables, but is caught in the act by the master himself, whom he kills with a knife in the struggle that ensues. Stockton leaves the room, into which, just Hovte returns witli a messnge. As Hoyte is looking at the body and knife, Arthur Tracey, tte Irsh Detective, who has business with Mr Elton, step* into the room and accuses Hoyte of the murder, and to add to the latter's dilemma Stackton returns and dc» bounces him . as the murderer. On this prologue a most interesting afterpart if worked out. Hoyte gets off, thanks to the exertions of Tracey, who believes in his innocrnce, and who has another incentive to clear Hoyte's character as he is attacked to Hoyle's sister. Stockton having committed the most terrible of all crimes, becomes a case hardened villian. He sets up as a doctor, and adds to his income by murdering and robbing persons who are enticed to his house by female decoys. In following up this man in order to bring him to justice, the Irish Detective has many adventures, sensational and comic, but j in Die end virtue is triumphant and villainy ranquished."