CURIOUS CLAIM FOR DAMAGES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 154, 29 June 1912, Page 16

CURIOUS CLAIM FOR DAMAGES

— m A WELSH ONION BED. A quaint personality, who would have gladdened the heart of Charles Dickens, convulsed the Llanrwst County Court in Wales, by his conduct of a cas?*. William Williams, an ex-constable, sued Mary Jane Williams, his next-door neighbour, for alleged damage done to hk onion beds by her fowls. Entering the witness-box, the ex-constable introduced himself thus :— "I am William Williams, premier bill-poster, town-crier in chief Llanrwst, in the county of Denbigh, in r^idence in Scotland-street in the town aforesaid. I appear before your lordships to claim 7s 6d, the amount of damages caused to my four onion beds by the defendant's hens. Before adopting this legal attitude I cautioned her several times, and sent her a letter to the same tune. I bought the onion seed from a gentleman of this .town, who has had fifty years' experience of selling seeds aforesaid. (Laughter.) When I remonstrated with the defendant she decorated the street with adjectives, which, wonld be out of J place in this court. (Laughter.) I had tour onion beds. Three aT© gone; the fourth lies in that box resting upon that seat (pointing to a^box of onions). I have a meet important witness in Court, Mr. W. Jones, the most popular man in the town." (Laughter.) The town-crier then proceeded to relate that he last saw the htus in his garden "at 3.27 p.m. on 28th February last ultimo." (Laughter.) Counsel : How many hens visited your backyard ? — Sir,- it is a garden, that Is its botanical term. It is a garden, a modern patch for produce, and understood, known, and identified as such in Scotland-street, and has been in cultivation from time unknown. (Laughter.) When Mr. Jones entered the box the town-crier, gesticulating excitedly, exclaimed, "This, my lord — I mean your Honour — i& the most popular man in the town !" ■He was promptly told to keep quiet. Later he produced a bunch of onion plants which he held towards the Judge. • Mrs. Williams having given evidence in her defence, the town-crier, in most solemn tones, addressed her as follows : — "Mary Jane Williams'. You heard my statement to the Judge. Did you or did you not on your oath see my onion beds the playground of your hens? (Laughter.) Are you or are you not — be careful, now, you are on your oath — I are you not awar« that your disreputable poultry kicked my onion beds into the four winds of heaven, and gorged the valuable seeds? Tho most popular man. I in Uk> town — (laiightor) — has given «vi,derK» hero to-day and contradicted you 1 ' v «Ajt«aPut in tnto. (Loud UuiahUr.) A|s& tlml »irk $s£ sakgyj ssM* ci

warning, you have been untruthful before fche Judge, an<i you will be judged accordingly. It is a pity the Welsh nation is condemned because of one ov two who commit perjury." Eventually the action was dismissed, each party to pay its own costs.