"BOGUS JUDGMENT"

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue XC, 7 October 1915, Page 4

"BOGUS JUDGMENT"

INCIDENT AT LOWER HUTT COURT. " I tell you it was a bogus judgment," shouted an indignant judgment debtor at the Lower Hutt Court yesterday, in answer to the Magistrate's (Mr. D. G. A. Cooper) reminder to the defendant that judgment had been entered against him at a previous sitting of the Court. Defendant, whose irritability increased as lie continued his harangue to the Bench, went on to say that on the previous occasion he had paid a certain lawyer £2 2s to appear on his behalf, but that he had it on the best authority that the lawyer failed to respond. It was evident that the defendant was labouring under the delusion that everyone in the Court was "up against him," for his next act was to shout in impassioned tones something about writing to the Minister of Justice in order to secure fair play. He maintained that the Court had entered a bogus judgment against him. Counsel for judgment creditor : Have you any property ? — Defendant : No. Well, I have a 99 years' lease of 2£ acres from the Government. Counsel : And a horse and cart? — Defendant : Yes. Gr unsel : Of course, that isn't prope*"ty. is it? Continuing, counsel asked defendant r it were not a fact that he received substantial cheques from Staples' Brewery Company and elsewhere for bottles. Defendant : I never earn more than fl a week. Sometimes I can't do any wcrk, because I get bad in the stomach. I feel bad in the Court here, and I'm ah paralysed. If you could only see my legs . Counsel (sharply) : Will you swear that you do not possess £14 at the present time? Defendant : What, on me ? Counsel : Have you the money? — Defeiiriant : Someone else has. Ccunsel : I ask for an order, your W orship. The order was granted, much to the discomfiture of the defendant, who left the witnees-box muttering in much milder tones than heretofore : " And I've never been in gaol in my life."