HUSBAND ON HIRE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143786, 9 May 1912, Page 5

HUSBAND ON HIRE.

‘KNOCKED DOWN” TO HIS WIFE,

Tho old days of convict labour in Australia and in some of the Western States of America are recalled by a queer auction held at Ashville, North Carolina, where a prominent local resident was offered for sale and “knocked down” to his own wife for the sum of £IOO. The man in question, Mr. P., H. Thrash, is a member of an influential family, and is understood to be worth over £20,000, but be was convicted of. violating the liquor laws by selling spirits to retailers in a prohibition district. A fine of £SOO, together with tho cost of tho prosecution, another £BO, was inflicted, and he was further sentenced to thirty days’ imprisonment. In response to the wife’s pathetic appeal, and on receipt of the prisoner’s promise, not to offend again, the judge modified the prison sentence, so that the county commissioners could let his servlets out for hire ns “convict labour,” provided a responsible employer could be found. The commissioners arranged for a sale by auction, and ns Mrs. Thrash was the only bidder, her first bid of £IOO was accepted, and she was able to take her husband home to work out his sentence as a farm labourer.