MAN WHO WON £30,000

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 June 1937, Page 10

MAN WHO WON £30,000

DIED FROM DRINK. LONDON, April 12. A labourer’s death from chronic alcoholism two and a half years after winning £30,000 in the Irish Free State hospitals sweepstake was mentioned in the Chancery Division yester-, day. Mr. Frank Thomas, of Huntington, Cheshire, brought an action against Francis Joseph Calderbank, licensed victualler, of the Bowling Green Hotel, Chester.

Mr. Alexander Grant,, K.C for Mr. Thomas, said that as the personal representative of the late George Herbert Cuffin, he claimed a declaration that three conveyances made by Cuffin, by which he sold to Mr. Calderbank three plots of land forming part of the Meadow House Farm, Huntington, were null and void and should be set aside.

The ground of the claim was that during the last months of his life Cuffin was a hopeless drunkard, and that the land was sold at a “hopelessly inadequate value.” The story was a sad one, Mr. Grant conceded. It was alleged that, the conveyances were executed by Cuffin when he was not in a condition to understand business transactions, and 'that that condition was caused by drunkenness, contributed to, in a large degree, by Mr. Calderbank. Mr. Charles Harman, K.C., (for Mr. Calderbank) : That is not pleaded. Air. Grant added that in March, 1932, Cuffin won £30,4)00 in the Irish sweepstake on the Grand National. He died on October 12, 1934. After Cuffin won the sweepstake his drinking habits increased, and in August. 1933, he had to be taken to Chester Infirmary to be treated for delirium tremens.

Cuffin, went 011 Mr. Grant, began to frequent the Bowling Green Hotel and he reduced himself to a state of drunken incapability. “Moreover, Calderbank used to visit him, taking with him whisky which reduced Cuffin to a state of savage imbecility.” In October. .1933,-Cuffin sold to Calderbank five acres of valuable land for .240; in November a similar plot for £BO, and in December he transferred to Calderbank 7A acres for £250. “Calderbank,” Mr. Grant continued, "took advantage of this drunken fellow and got. these conveyances in his favour, bringing to bear the influence of whisky.

LICENSEE EXONERATED. Mr. Calderbank, in his defence, denied the allegations, and said the conveyances were prepared and the purchases carried out through solicitors. 1 Mr. Harma.n said that unfortunately both solicitors were dead. Replying to Mr. Charles Harman,

l ’ K.C., for Mr. Calderbank. Mr. Thomas ( said that, the only money' assets in Coffin's estate were £5. I Mr. Harman: What about the land? j It was sold to the waterworks for bei tween £2,01)0 ami £3.000. J Where did the money go?---1 do no) 1 know. It. went 1.0 pay off his liabilities. r I "There lias been a tremendous -lamount of underhanded work with CutII Jin’s business." added Mr. Thomas, i J "There are two piel tires for which j J Coffin paid £3OO. I have had an artist {down, and ho said they were not worth , i eighteenpence." j

J Mr. T. J. Morgan, solicitors’ man- • jaging clerk, said that Cuffin was “per- 1 fectly all right mentally" when he. bong**.- Meadow House Farm in August. 1932. J Mr. Morgan added that he lien rd Mr. ’ Cuffin say to the solicitor at a later|

‘interview that he intended Mr. Calder ,'liank to have the kind. His mind then •was quite normal and he did not enter the office the worse for drink. Mr. Calderbank went into the wit-ness-box til. his own request, and dejnied that be had in tiny way taken ad- ! vantage of the vendor when the latter 'was under the influence of drink. Mr. Calderbank also denied that he had • over "plied him with drink at his inn or elsewhere." as had been suggested. 1 Lal er. in announcing a settlement had been reached. Mr. Grant, said that the terms were that the defendant restored to the plaintiff one of the fields at the price of £250 he paid for it. There would be no order about costs.