AN UNUSUAL CLAIM.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 234, 15 September 1922, Page 7

AN UNUSUAL CLAIM.

FOR HOUSEKEEPER’S WAGES. Christchurch. Sept. 13. One of the most unusual cases ever brought before the Supreme Court was heard before Mr. Justice Adams. Emma Frances Lewis. New Brighton, claimed from the Public Trustee, as administrator of the estate of Edward Elliott, labourer, £llB9. Plaintiff, a middle-aged woman, contended in her statement of claim that she had lived with Elliott for 13 years as his wife, but as Elliott had fraudulently given her a ring, which he said would be sufficient to make the couple man and wife, she had not known that he had a wife in England. She claimed £l6B as wages earned when she had worked at an hotel at Clyde with her husband as a married couple. £3 for work done at Ran gio ra. £4 for work done for one G. Andrews, £338 as housekeeping wages for 13 years at 10s per week, and £676 wages paid by the plaintiff to the deceased earned by her own outside work. The statement of defence pleaded concubinage and the statute of limitations. Counsel said the plaintiff was an illiterate woman and had not understood the importance of the marriage cere-

mony. She had asked the deceased for a certificate, but he had said that everything would lie all right. She had kept house for 13 years as his wife and had done outside work, the pro coeds of which she had given to Elliott Counsel admitted that the claim was an unusual one. Evidence was given on behalf of the defendant that no secret, of the relations existing between plaintiff and Elliott was made by either party and Elliott spoke openly of his wife and family in England. His Honour, giving judgment for the defendant, said he would not close his eyes to the fact that the circumstances showed that when she went to Elliott the relations established might have been brought about by other means than fraud. No costs were applied for and it was announced that Elliott’s son had expressed willingness to rectify the wrong done the plaintiff.