REFUSAL TO PAY BILL

Evening Star, Issue 22106, 13 August 1935, Page 11

REFUSAL TO PAY BILL

MAGISTRATE COMMENDS ACTION Jn refusing to pay a bill that was put before him, a guest at a bottle party was supported in his attitude by Mr Sandbach, a Loudon magistrate, who remarked: — “ I should think anybody with a grain of sense who had an outrageous bill like that presented to them would immediately refuse to pay it.” The case was that in which Norman Ransom, aged 32, electrical engineer, of Chester, was charged with obtaining food, value Bs, by false pretences at Regent street. Jack Edelmau, lessee of premises called the “Cabaret,” told the magistrate that bottle parties were held there. At 2 a.m. a Mr West and a party of three arrived, including Ransom, and drinks, ■ which had been ordered previously, were supplied from a wiuo company. Food was supplied to three of the men, and Ransom was presented with the bill. He refused to pay it, and eventually declared he would send for a policeman. Cross-examined by Mr Hornby, for Ransom, Mr Edelman said a form was signed for a bottle of whisky, which came to 245. The meal consisted of potatoes and soda water.

Magistrate; How much would the chips cost?—About 2d. And what would the two sodas cost? —About 9d each.

Are you surprised he objected to pay 8s for that?—He was not objecting to the amount of the bill.

Magistrate: I am surprised he did not.

After making the above remark, Mr Sandbach said; “ There is not a vestige of fraud here. You, Hansom, are discharged, and there is not the slightest reflection on your character.’’