A story of a man, Mr Arthur Brookes, who offered an investor, Mr John Evered, a chance to make substantial money from funding a production of Love on the Dole at the Lyceum Theatre London. Evered handed over £2050, and even got engaged to Brookes’ daughter Joan (or was she?) before discovering that there was no chance of a Lyceum production (Love on the Dole was already drawing capacity houses at the Garrick Theatre, London, and had been for eight months). At that point Evered went to the police and proceedings began at Feltham Police Court to charge Brookes with obtaining money under false pretences. Most surprisingly, however, and under very odd circumstances, Brookes was acquitted at the Old Bailey three months later because Evered declined to present any evidence.
I would say read the whole story – but the truth is that a number of odd gaps mean that some elements in the narrative remain inexplicable! Still, here is what we know!
Enjoy, Chris.
Walter Greenwood: Not Just Love on the Dole 