DRESSES IN COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13134, 24 March 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

DRESSES IN COURT.

SOLICITORS AND FRILLS. In the case of Shelley v. Ross, which opened in the King's . Bench Division, dresses and cloaks were hung over counsels' seats, and a bundle of hats brought in, until the Lord Chief Justice remarked sternly, "I cannot allow the time of the court to*"be wasted like this." Mr. Gill, in opening, said the plaintiff was Mrs. Bertha Shelley, the wife of Mr. Norman Shelley, who was at present abroad, and the defendant was Sir Charles K. Ross. The action was brought to recover damages for alleged trespass by wrongfully-, entering the plaintiff's premises and breaking open a cabinet, and removing certain of lief goods. The defendant, admitted the acts complained of, but pleaded that he had the ri»ht to do so. The plaintiff, continued counsel was the lessee of a flat, 7, Park Lane which she held for a term of 21 years, and also owned a country house and had a .separate estate. She was also the weekly tenant of an additional room at the flat, No. 27, which she used for storing dresses She afterwards sub-let the flat to Lady Ross, but this did not, she contended, include the extra room. The plaintiff's 'case was that in the dining-room she left a cabinet containing her books, which was locket!. Sir Charles Ross had this cabinet broken open and the books removed. He then had the door of the extra room broken open, and here were found hanging under coverings a large assortment of costly Parisian dresses. These were removed by the defendant, and ultimately sent to Harrod's stores. Mrs. Shelley, in her evidence, contended that her dresses had been damaged and were unfit to wear. Her list of dresses and the prices paid for them included the. following: —

Dress by Callot, 42gns. ; dress by, I'aquin, 36gns. ; black evening dress bv Maison Rase, 25gns. ; pompadour silk dress, with lace, 14gns. ; blue cloth bolero skirt, 18gns. ; black satin opera cloak, with Maltese lace and fur, 30gns. ; two linen bolero skirts, 4gns. each; white accordion-pleated si k evening dress, 7gns.; five hats, £15 4s »6d.

Mr. McCormick, manager of Paquin, Ltd., gave evidence as to damage to a Callot dress, which could not, he said, be put right under 30 or 35 guineas. Witness said that one "magnificent creation," a »old embroidered one, could only be worn" 20 or 30 times. Do you like your customers to wear dresses like that?—We prefer them to buy as many as possible. Like yourself, vre prefer as many clients as we can get' (Laughter.) Lady Eos® gave evidence to the effect that when shown over the flat she was told that there were three servants' bedrooms. She went to America on November 23, 1904, and returned on February 4 following, and went to the flat. She gave her maid notice, as there was not room for her. When she inspected the flat there were books on the shelves, but when she got possession she found that they had gone. A dining table also' had been removed and the cabinet was locked. In the first- week in March her husband returned to England, and on April 5 broke his kneecap. When the room upstairs was opened it was found to be packed with things. A large pile of clothes was on the floor and others were lying about. 'This was the first flat she had ever taken, and she did not see any inventory. i The Judge: Did you think there was no inventory?—l never thought of it. I am not a business woman. Sir Charles .Ross also gave evidence to the effect that lie complained that the contract had not been carried out in regard to an extra bedroom and as to other matters, and the agents promised inquiry. After that he had an accident and brokehis kneecap and did not take any active' part in the proceedings. He employed * detective to be present at the opening of 1 the room. ° ' His Lordship announced that . lie should rule that, in his judgment, there was no legal evidence of a tenancy of the room—No. 27. He would, however, as a matter of form, ask the jury to say whether, in their opinion, Mrs. Shelley, through her agents, let to Lady Ross the tenancy of room No. 27, which was packed full of furniture at the* time. _ The jurv returned a verdict for the plain-! tiff, awarding £350 damages. Replying to His Lordship the-jury said that they found; there was no tenancy by the defendant 1 of No. 27 room. A stay was granted pending an - appeal.