RIVAL CLAIMANTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15830, 29 January 1915, Page 3

RIVAL CLAIMANTS.

DISPUTE ABOUT BROOCH.

PROBLEM FOR MAGISTRATE.

Whether a certain gold brooch belongs to Ellen Shaw .or to Sarah Johnston will ba the question which Mr. E. C. Cutten. S.M., will be called upon to decide on Monday afternoon next. Proceedings with regard to the disputed ownership of the brooch were commenced in the Police

Court yesterday, when Ellen. Shaw and Sarah Johnston appeared) to answer sum-

monses which charged them with " having taken possession of certain goods, to wit a gold brooch , not being goods distrained, under a warrant of a justice, and that certain persons, to wit you the said Ellen Shaw and the said Sarah Johnstor, are making claim to the said gold brood, and it ifi doubtful whether any or whi'h ot you are entitled to possession thereof.''

In explaining the somewhat unusual circumstances of the case to the magistrate, the chief detective said that a little over twelve months ago the defendant Shaw, •who lived in Nelson Street, became ill, and was 6ent to tho hospital. When she

returned home again she found that her house had been entered and some of her property removed. Amongst the missing articles of jewellery was a gold brooch. Quite recently she met Sarah. Johnston in the street, and noticed that she was wearing a brooch very much like the missing one. A conversation ensued, Sarah Johnston maintaining that her mother had given her the brooch. Ellen Shaw, however, persisted that the brooch was hers, and mentioned that hers had been repaired at the back. Sarah Johnston retaliated by affirming that her brooch, too, had been repaired at the back. In order to decide the question of ownership, the brooch was taken possession of by the police. They, however, after numerous inquiries, had been unable to solve the problem, hence the matter had been referred to His Worship.

- Some laughter was caused at this stage by Mr. W. E. Hackett rising and saying,

" May it please Your Worship, I appear for the owner of the brooch." Counsel was referring to Ellen Shaw.

It was found impossible to proceed with the case. Sarah Johnston not having collected her witnesses.* Mr. Hackett objected to an adjournment, saying that he was ready to go on, and that his client was being put to expense far beyond the value of her brooch.

Finally, His Worship decided upon an adjournment until Monday, the chiefdetective undertaking to get Sarah Johnston's witnesses together, on the understanding that his department was not saddled with the costs. His Worship reassured him on this point.