Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-12-09
COMEDY DRAMA
BY HOME TALENT
Proceeds of Play Will Be For
the Benefit Of St. Mary's
Church

Local artists III the hlStrIOnlc line
will pres the comedydrama,
Acquitted at the gymnasium on
Wednesday evening. Dec IA, for the
benefit of St Mary's church The pro-
duction will be under the direction Of
Ben GOttsacker Admission prices
will be 81 and 80 cents.
Synopsis of Play
Acquitted is comedy-drama OF
audiences to both tears and laughter
While its chief interest as play is
contained III its dramatic situations
and the unusual and clever comedy
the character Of the aunt, and also
Phil. are strong comedy parts and no
audience can resist their appeal.
The action of the play opens i'll New
Mexico III the ranch house of Jerry
Meyer and Harriet Banks Living with
them is their daughter. Dorothy. and
their niece, Ethel. who is made the
household drudge Ethel finds her
only happiness in her love for Johnny
Banks, her supposed brother, who is
a~mill hand and lives in the same
house. Dick Wayburn, an mscrupu-
lOus and wealthy mine owner is in
love with Ethel, but she does not return
his affection, and with her aunt he
plans to win her by sending Johnny
away on a supposed business mission
and then getting him out of the way
f.. 1,xy IA IL, SN<1
Wayburn's scheme promises well, bur
he is recognized by the Indian Swift
wing. as Il bad man and the murderer
Of his squaw. Wayburn, fearful that
the Indian will spoil his plans or muir
der him in revenge, shoots the Indian,
who is only wounded however. and
still plans vengeance
Ethel finds true friend in Father
Ryan, a mission priest who stops at
the ranch on his way to the mission,
and incidentally makes it known that
he is searching for a long-lost broth
or who was reared in an orphanage
and later at an early age adopted into
Il wealthy family by the same name of
Banks.
The following evening, Dorothy and
Phil. her soldier lover. go to a dance
and, like Cinderella. Ethel is left ILL
alone in the ranch house Wayburn
surprises here there and when she will
not listen to his suit becomes violent
and her safety is threatened, when
Father Ryan breaks in the locked door
Ethel has tainted and during the strug
Gle between Father Ryan and Way
burn the lamp is overturned and the
fight goes ON in the darkness. Swift
wing. the Indian. unseen by anyone
enters. and as Father Ryan is being
Overpowered stabs Wayburn and kills
him. Jerry Meyer and the aunt re-
turn at this moment and Father Ryan
is. as surprised as they are to fad
Wayburn dead. Father Ryan is ac-
cuSed of the murder and held for trial
Ethel has not heard from Johnny
since he was sent away by Wayburn
and, after six months have passed,
gives him up for dead. The aunt, with
Johnny out Of the way. as she thinks,
and with Father Ryan being tried for
murder. now schemes to send Ethel
for good and obtain possession of the
ranch. which rightfully belongs to
Ethel Just as Ethel hcartbroken and
alone in the world, is leaving, johnny
comes back disguised as Il Mr.. Woods.
He has learned from Father Ryan
that he is the priests Younger brother.
Before disclosing his identity. he r.
yeals TO Ethel that the ranch belonged
to her father and mother before they
were killed in railway accident and
now is rightfully hers.
Father Ryan is acquitted of the kill
ing of Dick Swiftwing con-
fesses and Ethefs property is restore
to her. At the last moment of the
play Ethel learns that Johnny is not
her brother at all, and these two Chill
dren of Fate. after being reared as
brother and sister after enduring
trials and sacrifices well nigh unbeal-
able. are now brought into each 9th
er's arms and now sanctions their holy
union.
Cast of Characters
Ethel Banks Miss Frances McQuillan
Harriet hanks Miss Agnes Bos
Dorothy Banks. Miss Ruby Bourgeois
Jerrymeyer Banks VIM. YOst
Phil Osborne Sylvester Gottsacker |
Swiftwing Leonard Beranek
Father Ryan..-.... Ben Gottsackar
Johnny Banks Emmett McQuillan |
Mr.. Woods. The Stranger |