CURIOUS CATTLE DEAL.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 285, 21 July 1908, Page 5

CURIOUS CATTLE DEAL.

:o: The Auckland Farmers’ Union brought an action in the Magistrate’s Court to recover £59 10s 8d from Walter Absolum, of Otahuhu, for cattle sold by it. Absolum’s name was entered in the books as the buyer of the stock, but after hearing evidence the Magistrate decided to bracket with Absolun?, as one of the defendants, an auctioneer formerly employed by the Union named Charles Newman. Absolum, in his defence, stated that he had no knowledge of the cattle and did not give Newman authority to use his name in such sale. Newman, in giving evidence, said a'man named Mackenzie, to whom he had previously been introduced, bought the cattle, and said he had bought them to offer to Absolum, who was purchasing for an Auckland freezing company. Mackenzie explained that Absolum would pay the Union for the cattle if he took them, but, if he did not want them, Mackenzie would pay. The stock were booked to Absolum, but Newman added Mackenzie’s name and address, and the conditions of the sale, to the invoice. Absolum, on being recalled, said he had never heard of Mackenzie. The Union’s auditor said he saw no note about Mackenzie on the sale ticket. Newman had stated that the amount could be transferred to his account if the Union wished. The Magistrate said there were some obvious inferences to be drawn. He. had no doubt that Newman had really, bought these cattle himself, in Absohim’s name, with the intention of speculating with them. He had no reason to doubt Absolum’s statement that he was not mixed up in the deal, and the only reasonable inference, therefore, ' was that Newman bought for himself, and that Mackenzie was a myth introduced a§. an after-thought. Judgment was given against Newman for £59, and costs.