New Britain herald., 1927-05-11
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1 tails of the sale of curios that took

1 tails of the sale of curios that tool place on Thursday evening.
 He responded to the coroner's in quiries by saying that the proprie tor of the place had been most will ing and anxious to be of assistance in the matter. but that his informa' tion had been of little real value.
 Could you find out if this dag ger was sold that evening""
 "Yes. it was. but it was not pos. sible to learn who bought it." Everard Meeker asked to be al. lowed to interrupt and stated thai as a frcquenter of auction rooms he was sure the name and addres: of buyers was always made a mat. ter of record. .'
 "Mr. Hirsch," Jepson responded flor that is the name of the man who owns the business, tell me that it is customary in large and i'm portant sales to note the names Of the buyers. But he says that the sales conducted in his establishmen are often of goods of slight value and that fully half of the items sold arc merely paid for at the moment and the purchasers carry them off, But the sale Thursday night in- cluded many really valuable curios.' Meeker insisted, and the prices in many instances ran fairly. high"
 "Yes," Jepson agreed, that is true. But 1t seems this-what do you call it -? pichaq, is not of great value and was among the last to be sold. and it is not certain that the address of the buyer was noted.'
 Not certain" cried Miss Fol som, who was devouring with her eyes the police detective. "Then it may be they have his address,"
 'It is possible. they told me. You see. didn't have the dagger with me. and though I thought recog- nized it on the list they showed me. yet could not be positive. It seems the rare pieces were sold first. and after that the lesser valu- ed ones were put up. Sometimes in lots of more than one article"
 "Ias." said Meeker. holding his head. "I stayed myself until all the worthwhile stuff had been put up, and as the cheaper junk came along. went home. The items I had bought were sent to me next morn ing
 Do you notice anybody here, Mfr Mceker," the coroner inquired. 'who was also at that auction on Thurs day night?"
 "Oh. yes. see several men in this room who were present there"
 The coroner turned to the au- dience.
 Will anybody in this room, who was at that auction. please rise ?" he said.
 Two or three men struggled to their feet, but it was with obvious reluctance.
 Don't hesitate to acknowledge your presence there," Hubbard ad- vised. ITO have been at an auction sale in no way invites suspicion. In fact, only the withholding of the information can be questionable procedure"
 Whereupon several more men arose, and among them was Croy- don Sears.
 Inquiry proved that none of these men had bought Oriental weapons except Sears, and he had, he stated, bought two daggers. one a Japanese Mara Kiri and the other Malay Kris of the seventeenth century.
 Where are these weapons now?" asked Hubbard, and Croydon Sears informed him that they were in his room at the hotel. ...
 "Why did you buy them?"
 ''To add to my collection of an- tique weapons. I own about thirty or forty such. and it is one of my hobbies to collect them at any op- portunity."
 Yes" corroborated Meeker. q sat next this gentleman at the auc~ ton sale and we were both greatly interested in the collection that was being dispersed"
 You are acquaintances, them"
 We had not been so previously" Mir. Meeker smiled, Out similar taste in collecting is a great help toward friendship. and We chatted as easily as old friends about the weapons shown"
 And neither of you stayed un- til the less desirable numbers were put lip for sale?"
 "No." Meeker said. i've left the place together. We parted just out- side, for MT. Sears said he was re- turning to his hotel, while I had an errand further along the board