CLAIM FOR LOST BOOK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20716, 8 November 1930, Page 12

CLAIM FOR LOST BOOK.

VOLUME NOW FOUND.

CHEAP EDITION OF POPE.

" A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. WELLINGTON, Friday

In the case, already twice adjourned, in which 11. G. Rogers (Mr. Goodwin) claimed the return of a " First Edition of Alexander Pope," alleged to bo worth £l5O, from J. H. Saunders (Mr. F. C. Spratt), a dealer, of Wellington, there was an unexpected development, as the missing book had been found, nnd plaintiff was confronted with it to-day in the box. " Tho chattel is produced in Court and handed over," said tho magistrate, Mr. J, S. Barton, S.M. " That ends this action." Mr. Spratt recalled Rogers, by permission, and questioned him about the book itsolf. Rogors agreed that the name " Charlotte Frank" had been written insido the front cover. Mr. Spratt produced seven or eight books, bound in different leather backs, with their titles obscured. Asked if any of these resembled the book ho had possessed, Rogers picked out one of them without ado, and it proved to be a volume of Alexander Pope, with " Charlotte Frank" inside the cover.

Witness said his book did r.ot seem so clean as that book.

The Magistrate: It answers in every detail, but taking into account its state of preservation, you say it is not yours ? Yes, that is what I say. Johannes Carl Andersen, librarian at the Turnbull Library, picked out the book as one lie had soen at tho • Dominion Museum a few days after the last hearing of tho case. It did not bear the Dominion Musoum stamp. Tho director told him that ho had found it lying on his desk. Mr. Andersen telephoned to Mr. Saunders, who eventually identified the book as the one which Rogers had given him, and which he had lost. Speaking of tho book itself, Mr. Andersen said that it was one of Cook's pocket editions, of which the 77 volumes had been sold for 365. As it was, it was of no commercial value. In England it would be on the Id barrow. Mr. Saunders said ho often visited the museum aijd must have left the book on the desk. 1 ho magistrate said there was no doubt that tho book in Court was Rogers' book. Such an edition as the one of which plaintiff was claiming the return did riot exist. It seemed lo have been a chapter of accidents on both sides.

" Neither counsel mentioned costs, and tho magistrate indicated that each party would pay its own.