THE BOUVY ARREST.

Evening Post, Volume LXI, Issue 86, 13 April 1901, Page 5

THE BOUVY ARREST.

DAMAGES CLAIMED FROM THE FRENCH CONSUL. A writ claiming £6000 damages has been issued by Edmund Bouvy, of the City of Wellington, 'cook, plaintiff (through his solicitor Mr. Wiuord), against Louise Antoine Marie Joseph Henry Count de CoUrte, Consul tor France in New Zealand, defendant. The writ sets forth that plaintiff was a servant in the employ of defendant, and that the latter, on 21st October, 18y9, in acquisition to the Governor of New Zealand, "falsely and maliciously and without reasonable or probable 'cause,'-' represented that the plaintiff had been sentenced to perpetual residence in the French convicc settlement of New Gale donia, and was unlawfully in New Zealand, and requested that the plaintiff should be apprehended without delay and held in custody for the purpose of being extradited and sent back to New Caledonia. That, in consequence of such requisition plaintiff vias arrested on warrant 6n 7th November, 1899, at Invfcrcargill on the charge of being a French convicfc illegally at largo from New Caledonia, was committed to Wellington Gaol on 25th November, and was detained there till 29th May, 1900, when ne was extradicted and given into the' custody of defendant or his agents, was conveyed in the custody of an officer of the French convict settlement to Sydney, and was detained in elbse confinement in Darlinghurst Gaol until 26th June, 1900. That plaintiff, heavily ironed, was then conveyed to Noumea, where he arrived on 30th June, 1900,' was thrown into prison and was on defendant's recommendation, placed in' a dark cell and there kept in close and solitary confinement until 11th July, 1900. That on the latter date "the Governor of New Caledonia having read the matter connected with the plaintiffs arrest, and the extradition papers supplied to him, and having 'Considered all things connected with such arrest and^ extradition, forthwith discharged the plaintiff out of cus tody. That plaintiff, when arrested, was not illegally at large from New Caledonia or .any other French possession that the arrest of plaintiff by defendant , was , illegal and wrongful ; and that "by reason of tile above conduct of the defendant the plaintiff has been injured in his character and reputation, .and has incurred great expense in procuring legal assistance, and has been prevented from earning wages in his calling." A further cause of action is included in which the alleged facts are set forth in much the same way, except tha 1 it is stated that plaintiff was shipped from New Zealand to Sydney " under the orders of the defendant," and that on 26th June he was heavily ironed "by order of the defendant." The final paragraph in this second cause, reads— "In consequence of being so imprisoner 1 and kept in custody as aforesaid, the plaintiff suffered annoyance and disgracr and loss of time and wages, and loss Of credit and reputation, and was thereby prevented from obtaining employment and earning wages ir his calling and incurred great expense in obtaining legal assistance to dbfend himself." Wherefore, plaintiff claims £6000 damages.