CLAIM FOR A BIBLE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XIX, Issue 3267, 3 November 1892, Page 2

CLAIM FOR A BIBLE.

♦ A somewhat novel case was beard in the K.M. Court on Tuesday, at New Plymouth (the News reports), before W. Stuart, Esq., B.M. It was a claim by a brother (Charles Bridle} for the possession of a Bible from his sister (Mrs. Kibby). Mr. Samael appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Eoy for the defendant. The evidence of the plaintiff was taken in Feilding and tbe statement handed in. He stated that he first knew of the Bible before bis mother's death, 48 years ago. The defendant then took possession of the book, and retained it till her brother's marriage. After his sister had left for New Zealand, he made enquiries as to the whereabouts of tbe Bible and found it was in the hands of strangers. He then regained possession of it, and on coming out to the colonies he left it in care of the defendant. He had since applied for it, but tbe defendant would not give it up. The defendant deposed that her mother died in 1844, and she being the oldest daughter took charge of the Bible. She was 17 years of age at the time. It was in her possession until the marriage of Bobert ■Bridle, her eldest brother: She then gave it to Bobert. Witness's brother died before she came out from England, and she went tc bis widow, who would not tell where the Bible was. Her brother Charles was between six or Beven years of age at the time of her mother's death. He never bafj tbe Bible in bis possession. The plaintiff went to Newfoundland and when witness beard he was coming out to New Zealand she wrote and asked him to try and get the Bible from her sister-in-law. He came out and ' £ stayed at witness's place. He told witness ' v that he had got the Bible for her,* and she B wanted to pay him what he had given for ai it, but he said it did not matter. The " plaintiff said he had got the book from l strangers. After he had been living in this district for some time he went to n somewhere near Halcombe. The first ° intimation witness got that the plaintiff N wanted the Bible was a few months ago, £ when her son received a letter, from V tbe plaintiff asking him to get the book. ' Her son replied that his mother considered wi the book was her property until her cbfotb. H

The plaintiff wrote back stating that if the Bible was not returned by 9th July proceedings would be taken for recovery. This was sixteen years after the Bible had been given to her by the plaintiff. Witness was oross-exammed at length. She did not consider the plaintiff bad a right to the book, as Bhe had had custody of it for all these years, and was also the only daughter. Her brother Richard was older than the plaintiff. The Magistrate reserved judgment.