JURY AWARDS £350

Feilding Star, Volume 7, Issue 2305, 6 September 1929, Page 5

JURY AWARDS £350

MALICIOUS CHARGE« (Per Press Association). i Hamilton, Sept. 5. , Having been accursed of theft, arrested, tried and acquitted, Mrs Bertha Prescott, a widow, of Huntly, Itnown as Mrs Watson, sued her accuser, A. E. Powell, a theatre proprietor for £IOOO damages and legal expenses. ,Bhe alleged the charge had been preferred maliciously,; without 'reasonable and probable cause. The case wavs tried before Air Justice Ostler and a, jury. Evidence showed the plaintiff kept a boardinghouse and defendant came a s a hoarder. They lived as man and wife lor nearly three years and r>ho eventually sold the establishment to’ him, intending to return to England with her son.

A dispute arose regarding the ownership of a. bed, which she claimed was not included in tho sale of the boardinghouse to- Powell. She sold the bod on her own'account a few days before her boat Was due to sail. Expecting her to leave immediately Powell laid ft theft charge. The hearing lasted tho whole day and the jury found there had been malice and' a lack ioif reasonable and probable cause for the theft, charge and awarded £350 damages. The case was adjourned till Tue,?dav for legal argument.; 5 '