QUEER SCENE AT A SHOW.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 69, 14 November 1912, Page 8

QUEER SCENE AT A SHOW.

“CHEAP JACKS” IX TROUBLE.

OFFENDER PLEADS FOR MERCY

Auckland, November 10,

lAh incident of a sensational nature occurred at tlic Clevcdon Show on Saturday. A stylish motor-car containing three passengers and numerous travelling hags drove/ on to the ground. The chauffeur turned his car with its back to the crowd, and then and there commenced one of those “Cheap Jack” spectacles so often seen on show grounds. I

GIVING A,WAY JEWELLERY. Informing the crowd that they had come to make some presentations, they commenced to scatter about jewellery, etc., and the fun was fast and furious. Then arrived the usual mo merit when the “Cheap Jack” flour ished a number of watches and gold like chains, with, the query as to hov. many of his auditors would give him 111 each for the articles. Some o them did, hut they had not. been givei sufficient time to thoroughly exam due their purchases when the “auction eer-in-chiof” remarked that lie wouh take a short respite for the purpose o' getting refreshments.

EXIT NUMBER ONE. As he left the ear Ids place wa: taken by a third member of the party one of much younger appearance, wit. fresh-sounding English accent and cos turned in a dapper suit of grey.

Then commenced one of the mos. startling events witnessed- on a show ground in those parts. Without tin crowd getting any warning, and a; the crowd were beginning to clamoui for their money hack, the car startes off across the paddock towards tin exit. Cries of “They’re bolting 1’ “Stop them 1” . “Shut the gate!” im mediately startled the crowd, and then was a general rush from all direr tions towards one large swing gate. This was closed just in time t. stop the car, and 1 on the instant th youngest member of the party —th man in brown—was nowhere to b seen. He had jumped out of the car and unsheathing a bayonet flourishc; is over his head, with an exciting cr which was understood by a reporte standing in the centre of the howling crowd to be something like this. “Thai gate’s shut! The first,one that stop; me from opening it I’ll run throng! with this” (wildly waving the glittoi ing steel).

WAVING 'A BAYONET. Quite unable to restrain them,selves the male members of the crowd closet upon him, and in a trice had divested the struggling youth of his ugh weapon. At the same time he wa: set upon in an angry fashion and pum mellcd in a severe manner. Cringing

at the feet of his attackers ho plead ed for mercy, crying “I am only a poo. youth. I have done nothing; let in go. lam one against hundreds.

have not any money; I was only work iag for them!” Meanwhile the elderly man in gre; was seated in the stationary car, am a section of the crowd then set up . howl around the motor. Some of then cried, “Out with him! He’s the on that has it!” and demands of a simi lar nature.

The man’s somewhat nervous repl. was to the effect that lie also was onl. a paid servant, getting £3 per weei from an auctioneering firm, and tit a' he had been sent out to assist the mai in charge,(he who had already loft).

MOTOR CAR GETS AWAY. The committee decided to remove th officials from the gate and so clea themselves of any responsibility. A few moments later, with a suddei .lash, tne car went through the gate ■ray, the big man in green 'giving i signal to the youthful member of tin party to get into the car. This wa.fried, but the young fellow was puller ;ack violently, sinking back with the ary of “Don’t leave me!”

He returned to the charge of the mob, while the car rattled off at top speed. Complaining of injuries to his knee and head, the young man war. led to the back of the Wairoa buttei factory, followed by a crowd. An Auckland solicitor advised tin manager, Mr J. McKnight, J.P., tha the crowd were committing an illcga action in placing the man in a shed or private property. Mr McKnight ther ordered the crowd back, and thej slowly returned to the show ground. OFF ACROSS COUNTRY.

Ten minutes later the youth 101 l the shed and set oft’ across country towards Fapakura. While he was yet in sight, Erooper Waugh, in plain clothes, arrived in a motor and started to investigate matters, hut found that the individuals wanted had flown. In the shed the youth gave his name to Mr Munro as “Joe Albion.”