CARTER THE GREAT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 130, 23 August 1927, Page 15

CARTER THE GREAT

HIS MAJESTY’S TO-MORROW It is reported that Berry, who was England’s legal hangman for a number of years, retired and wrote a book in which he recounted many incidents preparatory to and during the . executions of hundreds of malefactors. Those in which he participated, none are more pathetic than the killing of several women who were found guilty of homicide by their peers Mrs. Thompson, it is said, fainted in her cell, after having her hands strapped, and had to be carried to the scaffold unconscious, In which state she was executed. It is no wonder that hallucinations in the form of ghosts torment public executioners; such scenes are harrowing, to say the least, and have remained to haunt many public officials of the gibbet throughout history. It is a pity that capital punishment cannot be abolished in this most enlightened age. Volumes could be written pro and con with reference to its effect for society's w’eal or v/oc, but, it would not change its status. The subject has inspired Carter the Great, who will appeal at His Majesty’s Theatre commencing to-morrow to invent an illusion which he calls “Cheating the Gallows,” and in which he reproduces all the thrills and atmosphere of a real hanging scene, without its terrors. One of his young lady assistants is supposed to have been captured by the Chinese, and subsequently tried and condemned to death for witchcraft; she is marched up the stairs of the machine of death—which is a replica of a modern hangman’s scaffold —her hands and feet are tied, a shroud is placed about her body, a black cap adjusted, the noose tightened, and at a signal a Chinese assistant runs out. pulls a lever and, directly, before the eyes of all beholders, the shrouded, hooded young lady drops through the trap-door and space, and apparently remains hanging by the neck, to all intents and purposes a limp, lifeless body. The Chinese who acted as the executioner runs to the footlights, takes off wig and turban, disclosing the smiling young lady, who, a moment before, was seen to drop through the trap, and whose supposed dangling body on the rope is forthwith shown to be a dummy. This masterful illusion creates a great furore everywhere, and serves as an object lesson in graphically illustrating the method modern society has adopted in enforcing the ancient, Hebraic doctrines of, “An eye for an eye,” etc. “CHILDREN’S BETHLEHEM” SUNDAY SCHOOL FESTIVAL This evening and to-morrow evening in the Town Hall will be presented the “Children’s Bethlehem,” the festival and pageant of the Auckland Diocesan Sunday Schools. The story of the day on which Christ came to live among men is described in pageant, while the words of the Scriptures, set to the music of old English carols, are sung by the children. The first scene opens in the darkness at midnight on Christmas Eve. Shepherds and shepherd boys are out in the fields asleep and faintly comes the music of a carol. They awake and suddenly one of them sees the dazzling light and the Voice, which says, “Behold, I bring you good tidings, great joy ” Wondering, the shepherds leave their sheep and go to Bethlehem. The second scene describes the coming of the Wise Men of the East and the third the offering of the gifts to the Infant. All the Sunday schools in the diocese will be represented in the play, and at the finish the children will present their gifts to the church’s charities, the Children's Home, Richmond Road, Orphan •’ Home, Papatoetoe, St. Mary’s Homes, Otahuhu, Maori Sunday schools, Melanesian and Polynesian schools and the creche of the Order of the Good Shepherd. GRAND CONCERT SCOTS HALL, TO-NIGHT This evening a grand complimentary concert will be given at Scots Hall, Svmonds Street, for Mr. Walter Vernon, the well-

known ventriloquist. The concert is under the patronage of the Orphans’ and Savage Clubs, patrons who spell success for any undertaking. An excellent programme has been arranged and many o f Auckland’s leading artists will contribute items. Mr. Vernon himself

will appear. The Auckland Orphans’ Orchestra will render select items.