WHISKY FOR AN "INFANT."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11825, 30 November 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

WHISKY FOR AN "INFANT."

An interesting point was determined by Mr. Lumley Smith, K.C., judge*'of the City of London Court, lately, in an action in winch Ingrains (Limited), wine merchants, Gracechurch Lane, K.C., sued Mr. IT. J. Samuel, stockbroker's clerk in the city, living at 110, Urondesbury Villas, for £2 13s, whisky and port wine supplied. Defendant admitted having had the whisky and port, but pleaded infancy. His mother proved thai, he would not be of full a> r e until the end of the present month. Mr. J. 11. Welfare, plaintiff's solicitor, urged that whisky was necessary for an infant in the defendant's position in life. The Judge: Perhaps the doctor ordered it. (Laughter.) Mrs. Samuel said her son was only earning £1 a week, and he was not in delicate health. The whisky and port were consumed by her and her family during last Christmas; festivities : but it was ordered by her sou. She had a private income.

The learned judge said he should hold that whisky was a necessary, having regard to the defendant's position in life. His family were respectable people, and living in a decent way. They were not immoderate, for they had made a dozen of the whisky last for six months. He would not say that a certain quantity of whisky and port wine were not " necessaries" for a young man in the defendant's position. Therefore, although he was an " infant," he would have to pay the sum claimed, with coats.