TEACHING PEOPLE TO ACT.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2573, 6 April 1877, Page 2

TEACHING PEOPLE TO ACT.

'Charles 1 Grafiam: alias Cftartal^l*ver, aged twenty-one, who described jhimself as &n actor and theatrical agents, was charged at the Lambeth Police-court with obtaining from-Stephen Muskell the sum of £10 by means ot a trick. The prisoner caused advertisements to be inserted in various newspapers, stating that * mcs. -

senger of good charaoter was required, who would havo to deposit £10 cash as security. To this advertisement Maskell replied, and was engaged at a salary of £1 a-week. For some days he was chiefly employed in taking advertisements to the newspapers offering salaried theatrical engagements to persons who were to deposit £10 each "as* security." The prisoner paid him for three or four weeks, and then said lie could pay him no more wages as he was bankrupt. The £10 was not returned. Another man named Brown stated that ho was similarly engaged by the prisoner, and deposited £5. Upwards of 1000 letters in answer to the prisoner's sham theatrical advertisements were found in his house .when he was taken into custody. The magistrate was told that two young ladies were in attendance who had paid 6s each to the defendant to give them lessons to play lady's' parts in the Hunchback, and he told them they would be on the stage 'in a fortnight. They were to pay him £2, but "they could give only 10s, "ihd were to pay the remaindei^When they obtained engagements. Mr Chance remanded the prisoner for a week, but : agreed to take bail, two sureties in £40 each.' At his second hearing it' was stated- that numerous - answers from young. persons in schools and' colleges were found at his lodgings. Some were well written, in bthers very strange .requests were made. One applicant •wanted the "regular business" and ob- ■■, jepted to the Another wrote, i " i ice you har in want of jong people for the:stage.' i baye N never hacted before. Obege with r earlyst convenence." In '^Knottier the.words were:—" i rite in ancer 7' to 'your averstment. you ar in waht of r num i youn" girls for the - stage. < i bam hopen. to .you ingagement. CompleoHon .fair." Two persons had-advanced money'as security, to become messengers, and could „ not^et it returned. A youdg man said he : .paw. an advertisement for a messenger, , and<wentloNt>.\l46,>Beresford-street, on I>ec."23i ■« He'tftigre saw the prisoner, who ; required'and obtained security in £6. - WitnessVhavingiii suspicions, afterwards ' asked fofc his nioney back, and the prisoner '-then said'he ha<L'""banked.,i,t." The '^Wednesday after Christmas was appointed /far. tnepaymerit, and when-he called the prisoner Baid he had .been to his solicitor ana found that it' was a weekly , hiring. ( The prisoner.-. said'.he l 'should l^iiave,, his. £5. returned- and- 12s ;6d for -' itlir.ee days work, but all he got was 2s 6d. „ Afterwards ,he called and' the prisoner • saidi he was •' too early," and he: had . better call man hour. Snd when he went <ftgaio -he' told him he was " too late." Subsequently he 1 got' 10s 6d, but had no part of the security-money returned. He copied aome' "advertisements for preparing persons for'the stage. Afterjjther evidence had been tendered,' the ''^pri'spiier' was committed for trial, find-has "'since teen sentenced to eighteen months' r .imprisonment. , --