ACTION FOR SLANDER

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 48, 25 February 1921, Page 10

ACTION FOR SLANDER

DAMAGES AWARDED.

(II TELBGRAFH

-PRBSS ASSOCIATION.)

CHKISTCHURCH, 24th Feb. • A slander action, Frances Mary Gerity, draper's assistant, versus Frederick Armstrong, draper, of Christchurch,' in •which' £525. was claimed on ejach of two causes of action, was heard in the Supreme Court to-day before Mr. Justice Herdman and a common jury of twelve. Plaintiff's statement of claim .»et out that on sth November, 1920, she was in the employ of T. Armstrong and Co., Ltd,, Hiijh-strcet, Ghristchurch, drapers and milliners. Defendant was manager of tho company. As the first cause of action, it was stated that on the date mentioned defendant falsely and maliciously, without just cause or excuse, spoke and published of and concerning the plaintiff the words : "You can go upstairs and get your money. I saw her ■take the blouse.'"' It was asserted that defendant by these words meant that plaintiff was a thief, . and had stolen a blouse from the company Plaintiff, in consequence, was discharged by defendant from her situation, and had sufi:fered damage to her credit and reputation. It was further stated that at Chri&tchurch on sth November defendant falsely, maliciously, and -without just cause, spoke and published of and concerning the plaintiff the words : "She is no good, and any fellow around tlip town^can do as he "likes with her, and that is the way she gets her clothes." meaning and imputing thereby that the plaintiff was unchaste.

The defence was a denial of plaintiff's allegations. ,

After a retirement of nearly two hours tho jury _ returned a verdict for plaintiff on tho first .count for £100 and on the second for £250. Judgment was entered accordingly