Historical information

Herbert Allan Leighton was an actor and elocution teacher known widely in the eastern states of Australia where he performed with his wife Tracy Hamilton. But all was not as it seemed. In 1903 he was arrested in Perth after suspicions were raised when he bought expensive clothing and jewellery for his wife. Subsequently six thousand pounds in banknotes was found under his bed. Another fellow from his theatre group was also arrested and charged with Bank robbery. Leighton was charged with receiving money that he knew to be stolen. Investigations by Perth police showed that Leighton was really, Victorian born, Norman Campbell. He had worked as a clerk for Victorian Savings Bank in Melbourne and then in the same role at Sydney Savings Bank in NSW. During this time he had amassed large sums of money by forgery and embezzlement, a crime that he spent 7 years in prison for. He then emerged as the newly minted H. A. Leighton actor and elocution teacher in Bendigo.

Physical description

Large format scrapbook collated by H.A. Leighton. Contains photographs, flyers, programs, newspaper clippings, posters, promotional photos of performers between 1905 and 1909
The material includes items from theatrical performances.
The scrapbook has a heavy blue cover with maroon tape binding on the spine and the corners with thick newsprint paper pages.
Paper items have been glued onto the pages with several loose items. Mostly unnamed pictures from magazines.
Includes a loose certificate as pictured. Includes two pages from a ledger connected with Prescott Jewellers Bendigo.