THE COMMISSION CASE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2561, 6 May 1903, Page 46

THE COMMISSION CASE.

OHRISTCHDRCH, JLjril 27

A commission case drew some scathing remarks from Mr Beet/ham, S.M., at the ■Magistrate's Court to-day. Fred Spratt sued ten old German woman named Pasche for (£3l ss, commission on the sale of a house. The plaintiff alleged that his former clerk, Alfred John Brockett, negotiated with Mrs Pasche for the eale of a certain property to one George King for £500. King de"iined to conclude the transaction, but afterwards bought the same property for £750. Mrs Pasche twice admitted in the presence of two witnesses that she had put the property in Broekett's hands for sale, but when a claim for commission against her was mentioned ehe immediately retracted what eh© had eaid. The defence vas a denial. Mr 3 Pasche declared that Brockett hurt-led heT so much that she did not know what ehe was saving, bun she did not understand for a moment that ehe had made any admission of authority. Mr Beetham characterised Brockett'e action " with a view to trapping Mrs Pasche into an acknowledgment that she had placed the property into his hands " a^s " very sharp practice." Ho did not believe that any authority had been given. Commission agents knew very well that when they made agreements for the sale of properties everything must be fair, square, and aboveboard, and to take two witnesses, after the whole transaction was at ah end. to endeavour to entrap an old German lady was altogether "too thin,' 1 and he did net believe one word of it. Judgment was for the defendant, with costs.

Mr and Mrs F. Baden-Powell, at present in Auckland, were on Monday shown by the Baden-Powell Committee the cabinet made to the order of the Auckland subscribers for Major-general Baden-Powell (Mr F. Baden-Powell's brother) in recognition of that bravo soldier's defence of Maieking. Mr Baden-Powell expressed great gratification on examining the cabinet. Mr and Mrs Baden-Powell make Auckland their home for a short season only, it being their intention to proceed to Suva and the South Sea Islands by the next outgoing boat.