SENSATIONAL INCIDENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15608, 11 November 1912, Page 6

SENSATIONAL INCIDENT.

CREDULOUS PUBLIC. (I'm U.s'iteu Piitss Association.) AUCKLAND, November 10. An incident of a sensational nature occurred at the Clevodon Show on Saturday. A stylish motor ear, containing three passengers and numerous travelling bags, drove on to the ground. 'i'liu chauffeur turned his car with his back to the crowd, mid then thorc commenced ono of those ' cheap jack " spectacles so often fioen oil show grotuads. 11c informed the crowd tJiat they liad come to nialte some presentations, 'Iliey canimcuced to scattcr about jewellery, etc., and the fun was fast and furious. Then thorc arrived the usual moment when the " cheap jack'' flourished a munber of watches and gold-like chains with the query as to how many of his audiencc would give liim £1 each for tho articles. Some of them did , but they had not boon given sufficient time to thoroughly examine their purchases when the "auclion-eoi-iii-cliicf" remarked that ho would take a short respite for tho pnrposo of getting refreshments. As lie left tJio car bis pliicc was taken by a third member of the party-one of much yonngcr ivppearance, with a fresh sounding English accent, and costumed in a dapper suit of grev. Then commenced one of the most startling events witnessed on the show ground in those pans. Without the crowd getting any warning and as the crowd was ltcginning to clamour for its money back, the car started off across the paddocks townrds the exit. Cries of "They're bolting," "Stop them," and "Shut the gate" immediately starthxl the crowd, and there was a general rush from all directions towards one large swing gate. This was closed jnst in tune to stop the car, and on the instant the youngest member of the party—the man in brown—jumped out of the car and unsheathing a bayonet, flourished it overhead, ami with an exciting cry, which was understood by a reporter standing in the centre of a howling crowd to be something like this: "That gate's shut; the first 00c that stops me from opening it I'll run through with this" (wildly waving the glittering steeJ). Quite unable to restrain themselves, the male inemlwrs of the crowd closed upon him, and in a trice had divested the struggling youth of his ugly weapon. At the same time ho was set "upon in an angry fashion and was pommelled in a severe manner. Cringing at the feot of his attackers, lie pleaded for increy, crying, " I am only a poor youth; 1 have done nothing; let me go; I am one against hundreds; I have not any money; I \vas only working for them." Meanwhile an elderly man in grey was seated in the stationary car, ami a section of tlie crowd then set up a howl around the motor. Some of thorn cried "Out with liim; he's the one tiiat hati

it." The man's somewhat nervous reply was to the cffcc.t that lie also wa.i only a p.iitl servant, jjott-inyJ33 pe.r week from an auctioneering firm, and that he hiid Ijccii sent, out to nesist the man in charge (he who had already left). The ooinjnitl<M! decided tn remove tl:e officials from the jjate, and so nloar themselves of any responsibility. A few moments later, with a sudden dash, the car went through tlic gateway, the big man in preen giving {.jus signal to ilie youtlrftil member of the party to get into the car. Tin's was tried, but (lie voting fellow was pulle<l l),u'k violently. Sinking back with the cry'of "Don't leave me," he returned to the charge of the mob while the car rattled off at lop s|ieed. Complaining of injuries to his linee and litwl. the voting man was led to the tack of the Wairoa Butter Factory, followed by the crowd. An Auckland solicitor advised the manager (Mr >L M.'Knight. J. P.) Uiat, the cToivd was committing an illegal action in placing the man in the shed on private properly. Mr M'Knight then ordered the cjxrivd back, and they slowly returned to the show ground. Ten minutes latcT the youth left tlic shed and 60t off atross country towards Papaknra. While lie was in sight Trooper Wngh, in plain clcthe.s, arrived in a motor car, and started to investigate matters, but found that the individuals wanted had flown. In the shed the yontli gave his name to Mr Munro as Joe Albion.