The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-24 00:00:00

DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMINTS IN MUSIC

HALLS'

At the Bow-street Police-court yesterday, Mr. '
Edward Westin. proprietor of the Holborn Music-hall,
appeared before Mr. Vaughan to answer • summons charg-
ing him with heeler; represented Gentile dramatic perform-
,' sues at that estableluneet without being licensed to pro-
duce stage plays.
Mr. H. T. Roberts appeared for the prosecution, and Mr.
Stanley for the deface*.
Mr. Roberts stated that he appeared for Mr. Horace
Wigan, lessee of the Olympic Theatre, the noudnel prose-
cutor ; bat Mr. Wigan wished it to be distinctly understood
I that he was not putting himself forward invidiously in this
matter, but was acting on the behalf and with the concur-
ranee of the profession an • body, and virtually he (Mr.
Roberta) appeared for the managers of nine London theatres,
vie, Mr. lisplesoe, Her Majesty's Theatre ; the Opera Com-
pany, Covent-garden Theatre ; Messrs. Falconer and Chat-
anon, Theatre Royal Drury-lime M. Fechter, Theatre
Royal Lyceum ; Mr. Webster, Theatre Royal itilelphi ;
Mr. Backstop*, Theatre Royal Haymarket ; Mr.
K T. Smith, Theatre Royal Astley's ; Mr. H.
Wigan (the prosecutor), Theatre Royal Olympic, and Mr.
Ca" Maryleboce Theatre. It wu necessery that some
gentlemen should act on behalf of the satire body, and it
bad been arranged that Mr. Wigan should be the gentleman
who should take that duty upon himself. The practice of
repreeauting at music halls certain performances of • de-
cidedly theatrical character had come to such a pitch, that it
was felt lobe necessary that the managers of theatresshould
interfere to put a stop to such proceedings for the protec.
tion of their own Mutest'. There was no vindictive feel-
ing os the part of Mr. Wigan or the other proprietors
against Mr. Weston Aso ally. On the contrary, they
admitted that an establishmeat could not be better con.
dotted, with the exceptrou of this particular proceeding,
which was so infringement of the law. The entertainment
complained of was what a commonly called • "duologue,"'
and it had been decided that a " duologue " was a dramatic
entertainment. Indeed, he believed it might be applied to
stage dancing, though he certainly did not think that his
client, would act advisedly in curtailing public amuse-
, meats by insisting upon that point. But when
lit came to this, that plays, such as operettas,
burlesques, and the like *.*.'produced et these music-balls,
it was time for them to defend their own rights and intie
rests In this caae, as be understood that Mr. Weston
would plead guilty, there waanodesire to press for • penalty,
or, at all events, for more than • nominal penalty. Mr.
Weston was • highly respectable man, and had (July been
singled out for prosecution in the first instance, on the
ground that be was the last who had committed an in-
fraction of the law. He must observe, however, that in all
future cases, after this warniee, the prosecutors would pros
for substantial penalties. lie must mention also that
! though thee, proceedings were taken under a clause which
I only allowed 20/. as the maximum penalty, there was
I another clue, under which all persons concerned were
liable to penalties of 'Ol. Be should also observe that if
these entertainments were carried oo in defiance of the law,
, that fact would have its weight with the licensing
trues. The present proceedings were taken merely for the
sake of example.
I Mr. Stanley said he appeared for the defence nn solicitor
to the Metropolitan Music hall Proprietors' Association.
He was rather surprised that the managers should have
I thought it worth their while to take these proceedings, as
the appliaucee at the command of the music-hall proprie-
ton would not enable them to compete with the theatres.
Under the circumstances he had recommended Mr. Weston
net to be one of the two parties who were necessary to a
quarrel, but to submit to a conviction. At the same time
he did not wish to admit, as • matter of precedent, that the
I entertainment in quest,ou was a theatrical representation.
It would be left to some other music-hall proprietor to tight
that question.
Mr. Vaughan said the act of parliament was • very stria-
, gent one, and properly so. Mr. Weston ought to remember
that he was liable to a penalty of W. for every day the
entertainment was repeated. As there was no desire to
; preys the matter, be should only impose—for the purpose
of showing that the law could not be broken with im-
punity—the nominal penally of 20a. and costa.

SERIOTS ACCIDENT TO A LADY SONDTAMBULINT.—
' A remarkable case of somnambulism has occurred at
Clifton, and atteuded, we regret to add, with mrious
consequences to a lady. Amoript the numerous vieitors
attracted to Clifton by the erection of the;cbsin suspension
bridge' across the Avon was a Miss Lackinito, a lady of in-
dependent property and good coonexions. She took up her
residence at the Siou-bill House, a fashionable boarding
I establishment, situated at the foot of Clifton Down, at •
point which commends • view not merely of the suspension
bridge, but of the cliffs, Leigh woods, mu:lithe .picturesque
' and romantic gorge of the Avon. Banning along the
entire (rootage of `Sion-hill House is a large verandah,
overlooking an ornamental lawn, and opened upon
by • aeries of French windows. On this verandah
Mir Lackinan bed been in the habit of placing •
chair, and sitting to watch the operations of the
workmen employed in oonstructiog the bridge, or to gam
upon the adjacent scenery, and it is no doubt owing to that
circumstauce that the ringlike and sad occurrence to be nar-
rated arose. Between 12 and 1 in the morning,
ser,mant 19, of the Clifton division of police, was going his
rounds near the down, when he beard tries of • lady in dis-
tress. He searched about, sad in the garden of Sim-bill
House he found the lady lying in her night dress, and evi-
dently • good deal injured. Oa the verandah was • chair,
which boa belonged to the drawing-room, and it was soots
made evident that whilst in a state of somounbuJiam Miss
Lackaian has opened the window and carried out her chair
to sit as was her wont, and that, overbalancing herself, she
fell from the verandah, • depth of sixteen or twenty feet,
to the garden below. Very fortunately she escaped in her
descent some spiked railings, upon which Abe would have
been impaled ; sod she had the farther good fortune to
alight upon a plot of clover instead of upon the hard walks.
As it was she received severe injuries of the lag and back.
Medical assistance was at once summoned, and the lady
was plated under the owe of 1/r. Cram, and is proceeding
as satisfactorily as could be hoped for,
1106NIMAN't1 Tea is choice and strong, moderate
In price, sad wholesome to use. These winningrs hare secured
forthie teal general preference. It la said us yeasts by 2.11n0
apeate.—iAdrertlaenient.l