LAW REPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 286, 27 August 1908, Page 4

LAW REPORTS.

SUPREME COURT.

CIVIL SITTINGS

CLAIM FOR SLANDER. PLAINTIFF AWARDED £200., DAMAGES.^ Tho quarterly sittings of tho Supremo Court in its civil. jurisdiction were opened .vesterday afternoon, when tho caso of Annie Stowart, wifo. of' Thomas Stowart, labourer, I'etono, y. Hera Ishenvood; wife of Jeremiah Ishenvood, Lower Hutt—a claim for £200. damage? ..for, alleged . slander—wasi heard before Mr. Justico Coop'et and a com-! mon jury of four. ; Tho statement of claim alleged that tho words in question were spokon to tho plain"tiff by defendant at Potone 'on March 28, IDOB. ■ ■ ■ On behalf of tho defendant it was ~contondod that the words were not used. Mr. Wilford appeared on behalf of the 1 plaintiff, and Mr. Herdman (instructed by Messrs. O'Regan and Dix) for tho defendant. Plaintiff, in evidence, stated that oil tho date in question she and her husband were in occupation of a liouso to the defendant, who with her husband visited tho pluco for tho purpose of collecting the ront, which was not- in arrears. Cross-examined, plaintiff stated that defendant was angry when she learned they had decided to quit tho house. Evidence for tho plaintiff was also given by Ellen Johnston, Florence Wright, Thos. Stowart, and John M. Cameron. Mr. Herdman, in opening tho caso for tho defendant, described it as a trumpery quarrel between two neighbours. Defendant • (sworn) stated that sho drew', plaintiff's attention to the- untidy state of.' the ' baelc-yard. Tho expression which was, used was not of a defamatory character. Her -husband gavo • plaintiff .and her husband notice to quit the house. Evidence was also' given by defendant's husbaud. Tho'jury, which retired at 5.40 p.m., returned at 6 p.m. with- a verdict for the plaintiff for-£2OO. . "■ Judgment- was entered for- plaintiff, with costs on the lowest scale, witnesses' expenses, and other disbursements. Tho Court then adjourned until 10.30 this morning.

IN CHAMBERS. Probato of tbo wills, of'the'following deceased pei'sons ■ was' granted by Sir. Justice Cooper yesterday: —Euphenna Limbrick (Napier); John Ritchie (Wakamarina); Andrew Cleghorn (Tapanui); Sarah Osborne (Now. Plymouth) j Joseph Hodgotts (Silverstream) ; Michael Sullivan (Wellington); Mary (Jreatbatch (Featherston), and Jane Paul'mier (Wellington).