WHEN ACTORS DISAGREE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1920, Page 5

WHEN ACTORS DISAGREE.

AUSTRALIA - MEETS AMERICA. SEQUEL IN POLICE COUET.i By Telegraph.—Press Association, Auckland, Last Night. Tlie vaudeville artist Louis Le Brun (32Y came before Mr. I'oynton, S.M., today on a charge that on November '24 he assaulted Alice Ermey so as to cause her actual 'bodily harm. 1 The circumstances surrounding the j charge, stated Sergeant Rowell, involved four variety artists, Mr. and Mrs. Lie Brun and Mr. and Mrs. Ermey. On November 24, when Ermey and his wife were practising their turn at Fuller's Opera House, it was alleged that they were attacked by Le Brun. Alice Violet Ermey stated that' she was on the steps leading 'from tho dressing rooms to the stage when Le Brun called from a dressing room door, "Just a minute; I want to talk to you," adding to her husband, "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 her husband's arms, When Bhe recovered from her 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 the xylophone 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 of the stage hands interfering. She knew of np reason for the assault, but had heard a rumor that the Le Bruns were annoyed because witness \|bre head-dress in her act. Sergeant Bowell: Is it feather headdress like Mrs. Le Brim's?—lt is quite different; they're not at all alike. Besides, I've a right to wear head-dress. I Had you heard anything before indicating that accused was likely to cause trouble?— The night baford'l heard him say, "I'll show you what Australia can do to America." Dr. Theodore Endletsberger stated that when he was called to attend Mrs. Ermey- he found she had a cut atoout 2% inches long on the left side of her nose, a contusion above one eyebrow, and severe haemoTrhage on account of an artery in the nose having been cut The woman was in a highly nervous condition, showing slight symptoms 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 have been caused by a fall downstairs aT Opera House stage. Tn that case there would be more abrasions on the face, and probablv some on the hands and arms as well,

Ralph Ermey corroborated his wife's statement, adding that as he caught his wife after she had been struck, lie was himself struck by Le Rrttn. When his wife recovered and ran awav he was struck twice again by Le Brnn—once when witness was rising after having been down. Then some of the theatre staff came on the scene and held Le Brun. Witness had had no quarrel with Le Brim. After further evidence accused, who pleaded not guilty, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being allowed in one surety of £3OO.