BOUGHT A "SOLO BRICK"

Evening Star, Issue 18333, 21 July 1923, Page 9

BOUGHT A "SOLO BRICK"

AUCTION ROOM ACTION,

[Pee United Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, July 20,

A good story was (old in the Police Court'to-day, when -Morris Conn, assistant in a Queen .street auction mart, was fined £5 for failing to stamp a receipt for a sum over £2. Chief-dctoclive MTlveney staled that there were suggestions that sharp practices were carried on at some auction places, f, James Christie, laborer, of Onelmngn, staled that on May 2, after buying a pair of spectacles for a shilling, lie paid £2 for a small cardboard box which the auctioneer, Clarence Russell, inferred contained something valuable. Russell then opened the box, and there was nothing in it. The Magistrate: You bought a “gold brick.”

Witness (laughing) : Yes. Bussell then asked me if 1 was satisfied, and I said yes. The Magistrate: You said yes? Witness; I did, Russell said he was not satisfied, and ho asked his man “ James ” to give mo a razor strop, a tin of shaving soap, a razor, a little leather wallet, and what was supposed to be a gold watch. It looked like one, too. The Magistrate: Let me see it. Witness handed it up, remarking; It’s made of galvanised iron.

The Magistrate (smiling) : So that is all you got for your £2 ? Witness; Thai’s all.

Later witness said that he gave Russell £5 for a ten and coffee set, Bussell saying that would do. Ho continued selling, and then hustled everyone out of the room. Witness appealed for his money back, and Bussell went away, and his man “ James ” gave witness a receipt for £5 witho.it any stamp. An argument followed, after which Bussell sent out the office girl, who told witness that she would see the proprietor, who would post a cheque for £5. Chief-detective M’llvcney; Sor far you have heard nothing from them ? Witness: Nothing at all. I left the lea and coffee set there to be resold.