EXTRAORDINARY ROW IN A WAXWORK.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 890, 21 November 1871, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY ROW IN A WAXWORK.

At the Thames Police Court John Hall, aged 19, and John Taylor, 17, labourers, from Rosemary Lane, were brought before Mr Paget, charged with destroying a Welsh, fasting girl, with her medical attendaut and nurse, fracturing the skull of a Greek slave, aud injuring sundry other models in a waxwork exhibition at 246 Whitechapel Road., Mr Prancis Palmer, the proprietor of the exhibition, said that his waxwork models were highly interesting, and the magistrate ought to come and see them, and he then would really appreciate their beauties. (A laugh.) He would give the magistrate admission at any time. Mdme. Tussaud's exhibition was really not better than his. People from the West-end often patronised his exhibition, and although the admission fee was small they gave him Is and said that to see his exhibition was worth half a dozen. (Loud laughter.) There was a picture in his exhibition worth £SOOO. He had been offered £I9OO for it, and would not accept it (Laughter.) Now it so happened that roughs and blackguards who did not understand the beautiful in nature and art would, out of mere wantonness, destroy his valuable figures and groups. The prisoners came iu last night between the lights and destroyed the Welsh fasting girl in bed and crumpled up her physician—(complainant then produced fragments of the figures.) The Welsh fasting girl was no more. (Laughter.) It cost him 25s for a hand a little while ago as a substitute for one taken away. The persons who did this ought to be sent to prison as an examnle and not fined. They ought indeed, and no mistake. Mrs Palmer, the exhibitor's wife produced the head of the Grecian daughter, who save her aged father's life in prison with her own milk, and said there was a great hole in her head. The figure of the Grecian daughter was the gem of the collection, and was rendered useless. Napoleon I. was served in a similar barbarous manner. The head of the Corsican conqueror was handed in with a large hole in the top of the skull. The prisoners denied injuring the figures, and Taylor said he went into the exhibition with his hands in his pockets and came out the same way. Mr Paget said the man's property was entitled to protection, and he should send the prisoners to gaol without the option of a fine. He sentenced Hall to 21 days and Taylor to 14 days' imprisonment and hard labour in the House of Correction—- " Standard.