The Express.
London, England, 1859-01-21 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

BOW-STREETt

Mr. Harry Bo:4110, the clown at Decay-lane Theatre,
=to a summons charging him with having resulted
Mackintosh, a supernumerary, during the marrows
of the pantomime.
The oxoplainant stated that he was one of the mimic mob,
and had to share in the sbam Mau and cuffs of the nume-
rous street brawl' at a shilling per night. Although ooca-
dorsally a super" might get alarder knock than wsa in-
tended, still the row was generally conducted with good
tamper, and the beat feeling prevailed at Drury-lane among
all the parties concerned, from the high sheriff of Notting-
ham downwards. From some canoe, however, he (com-
plainant) had given offence to Mr. Boleno, who, on the
night in question, after accusing him unjustly of Igniting
the tail of the emit before the proper time, rushed upon
him with unprofessional ferocity, knocked him down with
an umbrella, and kicked him 'in earnest," after hewn;
down—threatening, in strong language, to do for him," or
for any one else who took his part. The sestudt took place
off one of the wing. and was not wholly witnessed by the
public, who, not knowing the nature of the attack, sided, as
usual, with the clown.
Mr. Henry, observing a broad grin on complainant's face,
rid—" Ton do not appear, yourself, to treat It as every merl-
ons assault?" . . . . . .

ComplMeMt said he wee Mock by the ferrule of the um-
brella, mil hurt a good deal at the time, and ha tolled several
other "supers" to comer= his statement. They differed,
however, In their statements, one swearing that It me the
" beadle" and not the hew& of the umbrella, and swam
dederbg that he saw • "bump" on complainant's ferehesd,
• oltemehmos which had not been mentioned by him, nor
either of hie previous witnesses.
Mr. Homy (addressing me of the witneseee) asked if It
was net pert of the duty for which they were engaged to
receive dm knocks of does, harlequin, and pantaloon ?
Wham—Yes; but they don't hart genteelly..
Mr. Henry—Are you not often knocked down.
Witnem—Apparently, but not really. We drop down.
Mr. Henry—BM is not the man, for example, who plays
the politeness, often knocked down ? (A laugh.)
VFltossie—Tes, but we never hurt him. It • all sham.
Complainent—Mr. Bolen Is very rough. I've heard he
broke • womm's leg three yeas. ago.
Mr. Bolero indignantly denied this statement, and thought
It would be obvious to his worship that the whole thing had
been got up by a little clique to annoy him (defendant) for
having Interfered to prevent some of their pranks on the
stage. The fact was tutee gentlemen constituted the ceme-
tery mile of a pantomime. For the first night or two they
ware combat to play for the amusement of the anthems; but
afterwards they began to play for their own ammement—
indulghe in a sent s of practioal jokes and a sort of " sky-
larking" which greatly embarreased the clowns, sod often
destroyed the action and effect of a " scene." They refused
to do whit was set (lowa for them, and persisted la • misty
of slaked their own invention. The cmplalnent was me of
thereat refractory of them. One night he pulled a string :end
Marked the comet, although he had no bedews to tomb ; and
another time he jumped on his (defendant's) bath without
any authority when he (the clown) wee riding a donkey, and
when, from the fatigue of the scene, he wasnearly exhausted.
He aniandy did give him a smart rap instead of thedoskey
on that coessiou, and wee glad to see him " wincing ', under
ft. Oa the sight in question. however, he only rapped him
with the umbrella, for the complainant, after hitting in re-
tina, literally bolted, and declined to receive the drubbing
which he (defendant) might have given him.
The harlequin, M. St. Maine, confirmed Boleno's state-
meat, end said they had enough of peril to encounter in the
scenes of the pantomime without being exposed to further
tisk from the insubordination of the "supers.'
Mr. Henry, believing the charge to he perfectly frivolous,
dhzeimsd the entomons.