COURT NEWS

Grey River Argus, 23 August 1934, Page 8

COURT NEWS

Petrol Seller’s Claims DAMAGES AWARDED. (Per press Association.) WELLINGTON August 22. Judgment for the full amount asked tor was given by Mr E. Page. S.M., to-day, in the case in which Janies Leach, service station proprietor. claimed £5O damages from certain firms, for alleged victimisation. Mr Page said that the defendants combined together to wilfully injure plaintiff in his trade, by cutting off all his sources of supply. Such a combination, if it resulted in damage, was actionable, and on that ground alone, plaintiff was entitled to succeed; but Mr Page went on to say that there were other grounds. To watch or beset a man’s house or place of business, with a view to compelling him to do or not to do what was lawful for him to do, was a mrsanco at common law, for which action would lie. Similarly, organised following with a motor car or cars, whenever he left his house or business premises, constitutes intolerable interference with the freedom of the individual, said Mr Page. The sum asked as damages was, in his view, a moderate claim. Security for appeal was fixed at the amount of the judgment, with costs, plus ten guineas. FALSE PRETENCES. WELLINGTON. August 22. Stanley Collins, 32, traveller, was sentenced by Mr Page, S.M., to 14 days’ imprisonment, when convicted on four charges of false pretences. The amount involved was £9 2s fid. The Magistrate pointed out that accused had already been six weeks m gaol. Accused to»ok deposits on orders for a tailoring firm, but the. goods were not forwarded. CATTLE STEALING. NEW PLYMOUTH. August 22. At the Supreme Court to-day. Charles Francis Jacobs, for cattle - tealing. -was sentenced by Mr Just ice Blain, to three months’ detention, fo - 1 o'wed by two years’ probation. Lawrence George Hill and Leonard Francis Jennings Worthington, charged with Jacobs for similar offences received two years’ probation. BETTING PINE. HAMILTON, August 22. Steve Dominikovich, aged 45, who was found guilty on a charge of bookmaking in Hamilton, was fined £5O by Mr Justice Herdman, in the Supreme Court at Hamilton this morning. The evidence showed that accused took bets with a constable, who visited the town for the purpose. On a charge of wilfully attempting to defeat the course of justice, at the trial of John Atirau Asher, on June 6, by asking a witness to alter his evidence in a material partieuar, to assist accused, Eric Troutbeek Hutton, aged 32, a carrier, of Tokaanu, wan found not guilty.