Norwich bulletin., 1922-02-22
FAMOUS TRIALS
MACKLIN, THE ACTOR.

If Mackhn, the actor, had only gained
control over his ungovernable temper. his
name would not have gone down in the
annals of crime.
Disag agreement, quarrel, a sudden
blow, struck harder than was intended.
and then the hours of torture and agony
that the brain passes through. All this
might have been saved Macklin, a most
remarkable actor, who was an associate
of David Garrick. He was dogmatic
conceited. narrow minded and arrogant,
his overbearing manners repellfng most
of his friends. but worst of his traits was
his uncomfortable temper
There can be no doubt that he was a
fine actor, and in stage management he
had no equal during his period. The
crime for which he was convicted was
enacted on the stage of the Drury Lane
Playhouse The cause was a mere moth
| ing-a wig, and the sequel death
One of the ushers, Thomas Arne. at the
| trial gave this account of the murder Of
| the deceased Hallam by Macklin: con
Saturday night in May, 1875, the prisoner
! happened to be playing Sancho in The
Fop's Fortune. The play was almost fin
| shed when the prisoner started an argu-
| ment between himself and the deceased
| as TO who should wear a property wig
Mackln had played in the wig the night
before and on the night Of the crime the
| deceased had gained possession of it.
| Curse You for a rogue said the prisoner
| What right have you with my wig? To
this the deceased answered, I am no
| more rogue than yourself; it Is a stock
! wig and 1 have as much right to it as
| you have"
Some of the other players coming in
and knowing the fury Of Macklin when
once aroused desired Hallam to give the
wig TO him. Hallam then complied with
their wishes. saying that he had a wig
| which he could use Just as well and
which he liked better All then was
quiet for about Is minutes. when the
prisoner broke out anew, You are a
have the impudence to take my wig?'
Again the deceased said, IT am no more a
rascal than yourself"
Upon hearing this Macklin started
forward. having a stick in his hand. and
made full mnge at the face of Hallam m
and thrust the stick in his left eve Pull
ing the stick back. he looked pale turned
on his heel, and in an awful fury threw
the stick with all his force up the Chin
ney.
When his passion claimed down he ran
over to the deceased 20. Lord" cried
Hallam. at is out" NO" said the nris
oner. putting his hand to the injured eve
II feel the ball roll under my hand" The
witness then told how the doctors and a
surgeon had been sent for.
A dresser, Thomas wigtaker. told much
the same story. saying that after the first
quarre he went upstairs to bring dowr
some property Just as he was COMING
down the steps he saw the accused max,
a sudden lunge at Hallam. who clappet
his hand TO his eye. crying out.
The prisoner was then called to max,
his defense He tried to show that h,
had first asked civilly for the wig. sayin.
You have got the wig I played in las
night and It hts the part" Then. accord
ing OF the version Of the prisoner. h
asked for it as a favor but again wa
denied, Hallam saying that he should no
have IT. The deceased then went to III
h prompter's room and said he had bee
s used like a pickpociet Hallam bein
o prevailed upon to let Macklin have tn
r wig in question. instead of giving II f
: him Ha1lam threw It in his face Whe
n he asked the deceased why he had don
+ that. he said because you used me Xix
q a pickPocket." AngTily waving a sticl
g he then cried, Curse you for a pump,
!. get out" and as Hallam unluckily turn
q Ing the stick went into his eve
Il He further proved that he called m
: surgeon and paid him a guinea to loo
II after Hallam, that being all that he haf
E Nevertheless, Hallam died the next da,
q Turbut, the prompter gave PRACTICAL
;, The same evidence, adding that one calle
- the other a puppy and the other retaria,
ed by doing the same and then each cal
= ed the other rogue and a pickpocke
: and then Macklin pushed at Hallam wit
y no real intent with the disastrous result,
y After summing IN the case, the iur
10 found the prisoner guilty of manslaugt
> ter, and It was SO that he was sentence