A SINGULAR LAW SUIT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 67, 21 March 1898, Page 5

A SINGULAR LAW SUIT.

VALUE OF A CHILD'S THUMB.

SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGES,

In the Supreme Court, Perth, on Tuesday last, Thomas Victor Wright, a child of four years, proceeded, by his father, against the A.U.S.N. Company, to recover AT,OOO for injuries sustained on board the steamer Barcoo. It was alleged that plaintiff and his mother were passengers from Sydney- to Fremantle in September last. As the vessel approached the Fremantle jetty, the plaintiff put his hand out of a porthole of the vessel coming into contact with the pier. The child's thumb was crushed so severely that it had to be amputated. It was claimed by. the plaintiff that the accident was due to the negligence of servants of the company in not providing proper means of preventing a collision, and in leaving open the porthole. The company gave a general denial to tho allegations, and claimed that the injuries occurred after the steamer had been moored to the pier. If the porthole was open, which was not admitted, the fact did not constitute negligence. It was contended that the opening of the. window was a sanitary precaution, which the company was entitled to take, and also that the company was absolved by the contract with the passengers. The jury, returned a verdict for £425.