AustLit

A report on the legal proceedings brought against Harry Sadler by variety performer Phyllis Faye. The trial, which lasted five days in the Perth Supreme Court, involved several members of Sadler's company, notably Jack 'Porky Kearns (q.v.) and Arthur Morley (q.v.). Faye claim that Sadler had defamed her reputation by publicly accusing her of having an affair with Morley. Sadler said in his defence that he, along with Kearns and a hotel housemaid, had seen the pair in bed together. Faye's husband, comedian, Bruce Drysdale, was at the time overseas on active duty with the Australian Imperial Forces (A.I.F.). Morley was also married at the time. Further controversy emerged during the trial when Faye alleged that Sadler had made improper overtures to her when she was aged only 14. Kearns was also forced to deny that he was a drunken scoundrel, while Morley admitted that on the date in question he was drunk and knew nothing. The outcome of the trial was that the verdict and costs of twenty-five pounds were granted to Faye.