A Peculiar Action.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 95, 23 April 1891, Page 3

A Peculiar Action.

At tho sitting of tho Collingwood Bench of Magistrates on the Bth instant, a rather peculiar suit to recover money obtained, as was alleged, by misrepresentation came on for hearing. Tbo plaintiff was a young married lady named Ada Watson, and tho defendant, James Murdock, a recent arrival from England. According to tho evidenoo of Mrs. Watson, and of her brother and sister, John and Amy Powell, the plaintiff's husband on the 9th May last, when iv Kockhampton, Queensland, became very ill and she decided to go there and nurao him. Seoing an advertisement a few days later offering a ticket to Kockhampton for sale she answered tho advertisement, and subsequently defendant called on her and said ho had left England a few months beforo for Rockbampton, but that he had not proceeded beyond Melbourne and therefore wished to dispose of his right to travol furtnor. This was a ticket for a second paloon passage by one of the Now Zealand Ooropam'a vessels, and it was pointed ont to Murdock at tho time by tho plaintiff and her witnesses that tho coasting btoamers carried only two classes of passengers. Mrs. Watson rofusod to buy tho ticket unless it could bo exchanged for a saloon ticket. Mnrdock said that could bo done, that it was transferable to a lady, and that she could start by tho Aramac during the following weok. Mrs. Watson then paid down £1 12s Cd, and suggested that bo should change the tioket. Mnrdock did bo, but sent her a ticket for a steerage berth. This tickot was returned to him, but he j refused to rofund the money, alleging that ho had Hold tho English order, and not the tickot issued in Australia. Tho Bench gave a verdict for tho amount olaimod, with 0s Cd costs