SLANDER ALLEGED

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 51, 29 August 1917, Page 8

SLANDER ALLEGED

PHOTOGRAPHER AN!) DRESSI

MAKERS.

A claim for £11050 for alleged I spiracy and slander occupied the atf tion of the Supreme Court to-day. J parties were two girls, Isabel and Glal Davey, who sought to recover the amej named from Arthur Waldemar Schj photographer. j:

Mr. Justice Hosfring was on the Bei and Mr. J. B?Ddie was foreman of jury. Mr. T. Young appeared for plaintiffs, and the defendant was re sented bj Mr. T. 51. Wilford. !

In outlining the case for thje plaint:; Mr. Young said that it was one wt > had some unpleasant details. The g; were'dressmakers, and had been succ > ful in establishing a good clientele ? Wellington. They became the tent;. of the defendant, renting from him, Vivian-street, a small narrow shop, w; ; a bed-sittingroom behind it. In wall was a fanlight looking in fi Scha-ef's workshop adjoining. In a< tion to doing dressmaking, the girls idid some pressing of men's suits. T. - paid 10s per week for their rooms n ; May, when Schaef came to them and w: cd to raise the rent to 12s 6d weekly. 1 thviy refused to pay, and subsequently made certain charges against their j, priety. He charged the girls with be' prostitutes. Schaef sued them in Magistrate's Court to recover £2 1 rant due; also for possession of the j mises. He got judgment for the re but judgment was given for the defe ants in the claim for possession of f mises. The Magistrate, counsel conte ed, disbelieved Scha.->{'s allegati 1. against the morality of the girls. | Isabel Davey, one of the u'ainti;' gave evidence in support of counsf opening statement, and was subjected}a searching cross-examination b,y 2 Wilford. She strenuously denied t their room was used for purposes immorality. Men "were never in th room—either soldiers or civilians— ;S smoking and drinking did not go there.

Several witnesses'were called to test! to the general good character and mdl try of the girls. I Medical evidence was called to shl that the condition of Miss Isabel Da 4 was not at all consistent with the ei| gestion that her mode of living was i all it should be. ■ ; I.

(Proceeding.)