THE TE AWAMUTU PIANO CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 63, 15 March 1900, Page 4

THE TE AWAMUTU PIANO CASE.

JUDGMENT FOR PLAINTIFF FOBtf

£7 AND COSTS.

The Supreme Court was occupied all| clay yesterday hearing "the addresses of counsel in the action George Maunder, of Te Awamutu, v. WffliJ Henry Webbe, manager of the London^ and Berlin Piano Comoany, of AucKt.;. land, claim £250 damages, for allegedmalicious prosecution. His Honor declined the non-suit asked for by.3"' ; Hugh Campbell. He thought there was ample evidence to go before the jury. Mr Campbell did not call v'd- ■ nesses for the defence. He addressed, the' jury, and said defendant was jus- ; : tifietl iii the' course he had taken, and there was no evidence to show malice or ill will upon his part. Mr Baiii«e replied on behalf of plaintiff. This morning His Honor summed upthe case, to the" jury, lie said the jWJ' > had to consider if the defendant acted without reasonable or probable cause ' and with malice, then it was a question of damages, but if he' had reason-.;, able or probable cause for his action, or that he had no malice, then lie va3 • entitled to.the verdict.... ■ ;>' ' The jury retired to consider -theiiVy verdict at 11 o'clock, and returned to Court at 5 minutes to one, with ju^S1" ment for plaintiff for £7 damages His Honor entered up judgment fo'*' the amount, with costs on the lowest" 1 scale and two extra days for plaintiff* counsel at 10 guineas per day.