CHARGE OE ASSAULT

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1920, Page 2

CHARGE OE ASSAULT

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

AUUCKLAND, December 6. i • A vaudeville artist named Louis Le Brun, aged 32 years, came before 31 r W., Boynton, S.M. to-day, on a charge that on November 24th. 1.-* assaulted Alice, Ermey so as to muse Imr actual l>odily harm, i The circumstances surrounding the charge, stated Sergeant Rowell, involved four variety artists—Mr and Mrs Le Brun and Mr and Mrs Ermey. On November 24th, when Ermey and his wife were practising their turn at Fuller’s Opera House, it was alleged they were attacked by Lo Brun. Alice Violet Ermey stated that she was on the steps leading from the dressing-rooms to the stage when he Brun called from the dressing-room door, “Just a minnte. I want to talk to you,” adding to her husbimd, “and I’ll talk to you afterwards.” She went down the steps, and just as she got to the foot., Le Brun struck her a blow in the face and knocked her into l;er husband’s arms. When she recovered from the dizziness she ran upstairs, followed by Mrs Le Brun, who came behind her in a threatening manner. When witness got to the stage she saw De Wilfred practising on a xlyphone and called to him to summon the police. She then ran down the steps and saw her husband, and Le Brun engaged in a corner with some stage hands interfering. She knew of no reason for the assault, hut had heard a rumour that the Le Bruns were annoyed because witness wore a head-dress in her act. Sergeant Rowell: Is it a feather headdress, like Mrs Le Bran's? It’s quite different. ; They’re not all alike. . Besides, I’ve a. right to wear the headdress. Had you heard anything before indicating that the accused was likely to cause trouble?—The night before, I heard him say, ‘‘l’ll show you what Australia can do to America. D;r Theodore Endeletsberger stated that when he was called to attend Mrs Ermey he found she had a cut about pi inches long on the left side of the nose, a contusion above one eyebrow, and severe hemorrhage on account of an artery in the i.ose having been cut. The woman was in a highly nervous condition, and showing slight symp-. toms of concussion. He considered the injuries could have been caused by a severe blow from a fist or from a padded instrument. It was very unlikely that the injuries could .be caused by a fall down the stairs at the Opera House stage. In that case there would bo more abrasions on the face, and probably some on tjie bands or apus as

well. Ralph Brmey corroborated his wife’s statement, adding that as he caught his wife aftpr she had heen sr.-uek, he was himself struck by be Brnn. When his wife recovered and rail asvay, he was himself struck twice again by l.e Brim, once when witness was rising after having been down. Then some of the theatre staff came on the scene and held T.e Brim. Witness had had no quarrel with T.«e Brun. After further. evidence, the accused who pleaded no.t guilty, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being allowed in one surety of £9OO.