CLAIM FOR DAMAGES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3007, 19 February 1917, Page 6

CLAIM FOR DAMAGES

PLAINTIFF AWARDED £100. ■ ■ ■ '-J - | _ - In the Supreme Court on Saturday, His Honour Mr. Justice Chapman ; and a jury of twelve, William Jamais Huston claimed from, Jaines Moult Stephen £501 damages for injuries received.Mr. A. W. Blair appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. H. F. Von Haast for the defendant. Mr. Blair said that the plaintiff, a hoy nine years of age,' was, in November, 1914, playing in the hack yard at his home, when he was struck in tbe shoulder by a .22 bullet fired by the defendant. The defendant,'when seen bv the plaintiff's mother immediately afterwards, admitted that he had fired tHe shot. There was no allegation that the occurrence was'anything but an accident. As a result of tie injury, the boy had to spend 65 days in hospital, and for about four months after • that was attended by a doctor for septic poisoning. _He did not., sleep at nights and had never been .normal since the accident. The bullet still remained in the shoulder. Mr. Von Haast' said the defendant bad all along" taken up the attitude that if there was anything to pay he .'■; must pay it. Mr. Blair-:- Then it is only a question, of the exient of the damage. After hearing medical and-other evidence on both sides, .the jury -returned - a verdict for the plaintiff, assessing . damages at £100.