HAPPENINGS IN COURT

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 200, 21 May 1931, Page 6

HAPPENINGS IN COURT

“You Will Have to Shout” All through the day the proceedings of the Lower Hutt Magistrate’s Court had been disturbed by the noise’ of riveting in connection with the erection of the new Hutt Valley Telephone Exchange building. At these times .it was scarcely possible to hear oneself speak in the. courthouse. In the afternoon a ease involving a breach of tile hotel employees’ award was being heard. The, barman of the hotel, Robert Guest, was giving evidence. “You will have to shout, Mr. Guest,” said the magistrate, Mr. W.' H. Woodward, S.M., amid great laughter. ■ ’ In another .case ii man was being sued by a solicitor for payment of the balance of costs owing. “Do you admit the claim?” askod the magistrate of the defendant.

.“Legally it may be owing,” replied the defendant. “Morally it is not owing at all.” A married woman was also being sued .in respect, of her separate estate by the same solicitor. The amount was £2/2/-. Defendant conducted her own defence. She opened lire on the instant. “It was a most important case,” she began. “Just a minute, please,” said the magistrate. “Do you admit the claim?” “Most certainly not," was the reply. “I admit no part of it whatever.”

Wait a bit,” said the magistrate, as the defendant kept up her verbal fire. “I must hear'one side at a time.”

■ ies, she said, "but I am between two fires (referrinc; to the lawyer in the box and the lawyer appearing for plaintiff), and, I am an honest w.oman.” _ Not satisfied with the answers her questions were eliciting from the plaintiff, defendant said: “He can come into this court ami win anything. He is a lawyer, and he told- me he could win anything.” When judgment was entered against her she said: "Then fix the term in gaol now, because I am not going to pay the amount.