Continuity mistake: During the "This is me" sequence, the tattooed man is wearing a red cape. During the last few seconds of the song, he loses the cape and then it reappears again. (00:59:55)
Other mistake: Ann rolls down the rope and lands in Phillip's arms just as the camera changes. In the second camera shot, the rope that Ann has just rolled down is perfectly still. Not possible after Ann rolled down the rope less than half a second before. (01:03:00)
Other mistake: At the start, we see PT Barnum in the shadows. However his waistcoat is lit up in one shot despite the lights all being behind him. (00:00:40)
Answer: In those days that would be a normal punishment for P.T.'s behaviour. His father could have said something but did not want to lose a customer. P.T. also did not want his father to lose a customer because they knew getting money was worth taking the hit. If they had enough money to miss one customer it may have been different.
Iceberg