The New York herald., 1922-08-20
new YORKER MAKES
LONDON THEATRICAL
AND PUG|LISTIC HITS
Alan Brooks Fined for
Backing the Eye Of a
Policeman.
HELD UP BY ROUGH PAIR
Runs AfOul of Some of Meth
DDS Which Puzzled in
Other Cases.
Special Gable TO THE NEW YORK HERALD.
eopyright, I922, bp THE NEw YoRK HnRALp

Special Gable to THE New YORK HERALD.
eopyrioht, 1929, by THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
London, Aug. 10.
Alan Brooks, who has Just scored
triumph by producing. THE Broken
Wing" at the Duke Of York's Theater.
is one American who has run against
the strange methods of the British
police. London has been more or less
mystitied by recent police maneuvers,
such as the report that Teddie Gerard,
the American singer and dancer, was
ordered not to return to England,
and the visit of two men processing
TO be from Scotland Yard, to Span
ish grandee and ordering him to leave
England because. according to his
story, the beautiful wife of certain
Foreign Office official found his pres
ence here annoying.
The police have made no explanation
about any of these mysterious vista
tons. Brooks got his explanation after
a fight. He spent Sunday evening with
Mr.. and Mrs. Bob Waller at their home
He left the house after midnight, carry
ing on his arm the dressing gown which
Mr.. Walters father. Lewis Waller, had
worn in his famous part of Monsieur
Beducdirc. As he started to enter !,
cab two roughly clad men wearing
mufflers asked him what he was carry
Ing Brooks asked them why they
wanted to know. whereupon one of
them drew from his pocket what seemed
to be card case and pocketing it again
Immediately In the dim light declared:
I'VE are police officers
Brooks then explained that he was
carrying dressing gown given him by
a friend. The two men, still suspicious.
insisted that they walk around the
corner to the friends house. Waller
Immediately confirmed Brooks's story.
but when one of the men made similar
hurried display of police card Waller
became indignant and with some heat
ordered them to be on their way. One
of the men insisted that Brooks accom-
pany them and placed his hand on the
producers arm.
Il felt some doubt as to their being
police officers" says Brooks. Especially
In view of Walters denunciation. So
when this fellow placed his hand on my
arm ! naturally drew back The man
raised his fist, and anxious to forestall
blow ] got mine In first-and il wasn't
bad at that. Immediately fight began,
the other detective holding Waller off
with my cane. When we both became
tired Waller and insisted that the men
come with us TO the police station. where
we felt confident that we would have to
deal with a couple Of crooks
'All four Of US got into a taxi. but
much TO my surprise the two turned ou.
to be police officers on plain clothes
duty. We accordingly were charged
with striking police officers and resist
ing arrest
In Marylebone Court the next day the
Magistrate. on the strength OF the story
told by the policemen. exonerated Brooks
OF all blame, but in view OF the fact
that one Of the policemen had a black
eye Brooks was fined twenty shilings
for the technical offense of striking a
police officer.
Brooks, with new play opening the
next night, did not want to bother with
an appeal. But now London Is thinking
of what might happen to any innocent
citizen whom the police happen to sus-
pect.
II feel worse about Waller" SAYS
Brooks. Mrs. Waller, who watched the
fracas from an upper window, received
such shock that she has been unable
10 leave the house since. 1t certainly is
pretty tough when, despite house
holders identification. fellows in such
makeups as these policemen had on can
cause such inconvenience