AN IMPUDENT TRICK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9831, 24 June 1914, Page 7

AN IMPUDENT TRICK.

About a fortnight ago Walter Hook wont to an auctioneer s shop in Wellington and r il ' l i;; iii » l all, ! a w ; atcl v ww £i f.."w*" After leaving the shop, ho went up larannki street, .where he was accord bv ; < '"••"' "»;»"<! Otto Haecker. The latte'r represented himself as having co.ne from J l "' """ion room, and stated that he had •ami sent by the auctioneer, who had found that the ring he had sold Hook was valucd a. about £3. He added that, if Hook was willing 10 par another pound on the purchase money lie could keep the circlet Hook demurred, statin- that he had made a fair bid, and he did not see whv ho should pay more. Haecker then threatened to draw the attention of a near-bv constable but Hook did not appear to' be at all pur out, and readily agreed Haecker turned to tro to the policeman, but. after taking a few steps stopped and sy.id ho would accept 10s. Hook said there was 'nothing doing." The accoster then said he would accept 5s and go back and tell his "employer" lie could nor. find the m*u This was agreeable to Hook, who handed over the crown. As they parted. Haecker w.nrned Hook not to ko near the auctioneer's place apain in --.o ho should be asked to pay Iho extra money. However, Hook did go back, and in consequence of what ho heard a young man named Otto Haecker appeared in the Magistrate's Court at Wellington on Monday, charged with attempting to obtain from Walter Hcok the sum of £1 with intent to defraud. The accused pleaded not guilty, stating he had never seen Hook before. Mr D. G. A. Cooper. S.M., who was on tho bench, however, determined otherwise, and imposed a fine of £l. with the alternate* of fourhn days' iruprisonnnt.