FARMERS’ FIRM ACTION.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 661, 14 January 1933, Page 1

FARMERS’ FIRM ACTION.

Threaten to Lynch Agent of Mortgagee. NEW YORK, January 6. Eight hundred farmers prevented the mortgage sale of a farm at Le Mars, lowa, by threatening to lynch the agent of the New York Life Insurance Co., which holds the mortgage. From all parts of Plymouth County farmers came to the sale, which was held on the Courthouse steps. Some of those in the front row held a long rope, with which they proposed to lynch Herbert Martin, the attorney representing the company. Martin bravely opened the bidding at £6ooo—£6oo less than the amount of the mortgage. That was the end of the sale, for the farmers seized him, and ordered him to raise his bid to £6600, or more. Martin sent a telegram to New York for instructions, adding, “ Rush reply. Am running risk of lynching.” For two hours the farmers, the attorney and the rope waited. Then came a reply ordering the suspension of the sale. Meanwhile, Sheriff Ripley, who had tried to go on with the sale, and Judge Pitts, who had sought to summon troops by telephone, had been seized by the mob. Judge Pitts telegraphed to the Governor of the State, urging that a law should be passed preventing foreclosures until a moratorium could be proclaimed.