SHARP PRACTICE ALLEGED.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1923, Page 4

SHARP PRACTICE ALLEGED.

A FCTIOX MAIiT (ASK. A KC'lx I.AXD. July 20 A good story was told in the PoliceCourt when -Morris Lorn, assistant in a Queen street auction mart, was fined L'o for failing to stamp a receipt f'oi a sum of over LX. ('liicf-l)eteetive Mcflvency state,! that there were suggestions that sharp practices were carried on at some auction places. James Christie, labourer, of Due hm'ga, stated that on May 2nd, . 1 “10. buying a pair of spectacles for a sfii• - ling he paid two pounds for a -.man can 1 hoard box. which the a net i-;-t; i. Clarence Russell, inferred contained something vchmhl -. b us-ell t h u n;; ■ ...I i! hex. ami there vn ■is th 'ig in

Tr.e M a I rat v : You bought : g< I i hriek. Witness (laughing): “Yes. bus-el 1 then asked me if I was satisfied, a. d I send ‘ ,'es.’ ” Thu Magistrate: “You said 'Acs':'" Witness: 1 did. Hussell said he was not satisfied, and l.e asked his mail ‘James’ -Coni) to give me a razor strop, tin of shaving soap, razor, and a little leather wallet and what wiisupposed to he a gold v.utle!i. It looked like one, too." The Magistrate: "I.it me see it.” Witness handed il up. remarking: "It’s made of gavanised iron." The Magistrate smihd: "Ho ilu'.l l all you got for vour l;2f" YYitness; "Tliai’s all. baler viliic-,-gave Pus-ell Co for a tea and eeff. set. Hussell, saying that would do. discontinued selling, and th' n hustled everyone out of the room. AViine.-s ;ii;pen led for his money hack. Hit f Riissell went away , ami hi- man “ la.im-W gave witness a rec.-ipl for L'-'i without any slain)!. Argument followed, after w hich Hussell sent out the oflii e g i'l. who til witness she would see tin pi'oprietor. who would post a cheque for Co. Chief-Detective Mel Iveiivy : “Ho far you have heal'd nothing iV-un tliem ?" Nothiiie at all. I left lhe te i and coffee -el there lo he re-sold."