FOR INQUIRIES

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 3, 4 July 1922, Page 8

FOR INQUIRIES

WOMAN CLAIMS FEES

SEQUEL. TO A DOMESTIC DIS

TURBANCE,

A'claira for £25 10s for inquiry work was made by Cecilia Jane Elliott, a married woman, against Charles Ambrose M'Carthy, a butcher, living in Cambridge-terrace, at the Magistrate's Court to-day.

' The claim was made up as follows: — For inquiry work in connection with evidence for divorce proceedings, £20; fee for attending the Magistrate's Court as witness, 10s.; two weeks' wages in lieu of notice of termination of agreement to act as a manageress of defendant's boarding-house.

Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., was on the Bench, Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. P. W. Jackson for the defendant.

Mr. O'Leary, in opening, said that tho claim arose out of certain happenings which occurred' in -'-March and April of this year. M'Carthy at that time, was having domestic trouble, and had reason to believe that! his wife was unfaithful to him. The defendant enlisted the sympathy of the plaintiff, and-a1 Mr. and Mrs. Braniff. M'Carthy said that he had had some difficulty in securing the services of a 'private inquiry agent, and Mrs. Braniff suggested that.she and plaintiff should act" as agents. This was. agreed to, and although no actual agreement ac to payment was entered into, there was an implied promise to pay... At one stage, M'Carthy said he would give plaintiff and Mrs. Braniff £100 between them. Later M'Carthy arranged for plaintiff to take over his boardinghouse at a weekly wage of £2 10s, but M'Carthy and his wife had since come together again, and she ! had lost that employment.

Cecilia Jane Elliott said that she met M'Carthy onthe second night of the last Wellington races. She next saw him on the following' Monday outside) Braniff's shop, and Mrs. Braniff said: "Mrs. Elliott will take this cast for you." M'Carthy asked if witness would watch Mrs. M'Carthy, and if she caught .her he would give, witness; and Mrs. Braniff £100. Witness said: "It won't cost you that much : She will bt. caught all right." Witness proceeded to detail her observations, which lasted until 23rd April. Latei divorce proceedings were taken on her evidence. Witness also came to an arrangement with M'Carthy to manage his boardinghouse for £2! 10s » week,; but since .then "■- M'Carthy and his wife, had come together again. All she had received from the defendant was £2.105. V , Mi. Jackson: "What is your occupation?"—"l have none. I look after my daughters." ■ ' . ' "You' were employed by the Health Department, weren't you?"—" Yes. I resigned on account of the long hours." "You were dismissed, weren't you?"— "No, I.wae:not." j "Is this the first time you have taken up the role of a: private detective?"— "Yes/and it'll .be the last." (Proceeding.)