GAOL FOR MILLIONAIRE.

Shannon News, 22 November 1929, Page 2

GAOL FOR MILLIONAIRE.

‘ UNIQUE CAREER ENDS I£T DISASTER. (Sun - Special). LOS ANGELES, Monday. Waiter in an Alaskan hotel, organiser of a troupe that toured the mining camps ox the Klondike 30 years ago, premier showman of the Pacific Coast, retired multi-millionaire worth over £4,400,000— and now a prisoner in the county gaol, awaiting a sentence which may range from one to 50 years —that is the unique career of Alexander Pantages, who has just been convicted for an assault on the 17-year-old actress, Eunice Pringle. In a nearby cell is his wife, convicted of manslaughter. The woman was convicted of manslaughter for getting drunk, and in her automobile carelessly running over a Japanese gardener. Starting as a waiter in an Alaskan road house, Pantages, America’s best known Greek-born citizen, organised a vaudeville show , which toured the Klondyke camps 30 years ago. Returning to Seattle and San Francisco, he organised a chain of theatres, which finally covered 100 cities. Six months ago he sold out to the Radio Orpheum Circuit for £4,000,000 cash.. The family celebration apparently knew m bounds.

\\ - .i Eunice Pringle’s charges were aired. Pantages’s staff tried to manufacture alibis and buy witnesses, but the district attorney to make an example of the multi-million-aire finally prevailed. The piosccutor even brought Pantages’s common lavwife out from the Klondike mining camps to appear against him. “A wolf who attacked Red Hiding Hood,” is what the district attorney (Mr Pitts) called him. OOULD NOT READ.

Pantages made a tremendous fortune, though he was handicapped by his inability to read or write. Personally he picked every act before it was ■ shown in his theatres. He passed upon the dress rehearsal, and seldom picked losers. The manuscripts were read to him, but when a document was handed to him in the witness-bex a few days ago, he fumbled and handed it back, unable to read a word.

The verdict against Pantages was written, and recommended sentence to the State penitentiary for the term prescribed by law, but urged clemency. The term "is from one to 50 years. The court announced that formal, sentence would be pronounced on Friday. Counsel for Pantages stated that he would then move for a new trial. Pantages was removed 1o the prisoners’ room and the tell of the county gaol, where he will be required to remain. The second counsel for Pantages said that if a new trial were denied, an appeal would be made against tlie present verdict. Pantages, pale and nervous as he walked, with assistance, to the prison room, said: “I’m going to fight this out. ’ ’