PATRIOTIC APPEAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 176, 26 June 1926, Page 9

PATRIOTIC APPEAL.

AUCTION SALE INCIDENT. HIGH TRICES FOR STOLEN CfATTLE. During the progress of a sale near Te Aroha in 1916, a young man drove in a mob of cattlo which ho asked the auctioneer to put up for sale. There were three pens of them, altogether and the auctioneer had disposed of one pen when the young fellow approached him and mentioned that he would have to bustle along as he was due in camp. The auctioneer, fired by patriotic fervour, made a speech extolling the sacrifices of young men selling out to serve their country and, as a result of his rhetqric, the two remaining pens brought in £2 per head more than the ruling prices. He then did an unprecedented thing. Ho told the gathering that when ho had disposed of tho first pen he was unaware that the vendor had cmistcd and said that, although lie had already sold the first pen, lie would now ask permission of the purchasers to put the cattle up again. Pei-mission was readily given, and as a result the cattle in the first pen also brought an additional £2 per head. It was only after the young “patriot” had got well away with his money that it was discovered that the cattle were stolen. Later, the culprit was arrested and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. When arrested he had in his possession a sum of money which the judge ordered to be impounded pending possible claims against it. This money is still in the hands of the Crown Solicitor, Mr H. T. Gillies, at Hamilton, who is now asking the Court for directions as to its disposal. It is anticipated that it will be ordered to be placed in the Public Treasury.