DEAD WOMAN'S RINGS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 118, 17 May 1909, Page 6

DEAD WOMAN'S RINGS.

STRONG REMARKS BY A

MAGISTRATE

"It is a mean, contemptible case, and no credit to any party. Fighting over the things taken off a dead body. It is a most painful case for me to try," remarked Mr Q. H. Smithers, S.M., in the North Sydney Police .Court recently. The case was that of Joseph Rutter versus Charles Brewster. Rutter was married to a daughter of defendant. His wife died, and the mother claimed the' property. The son-in-law thereupon put in a claim for the restitution of the property, which he valued at t £12. Frank Joseph said that he took the rings off the dead woman's fingers and gave them to complainant, and he (Rutter) handed them over to Mrs Brewster to keep as a token of her dead daughter. The rings were the chief articles in* dispute, but other things were claimed. The Bench ordered the haiiding over of the rings to the complainant in addition to the- articles mentioned, which Mrs Brewster was willing to give up. The S.M. said he would make an order, which would not be a pleasure to the son-in-law. The case' was no credit to anybody. It was, shameful that it should have been brought into Court. He would only allow 6& costs. '. "The complainant will be out of pocket a little bit," said the S.M. "I hope you are both contended now. You are both pretty heavy losers."