SLANDER CASE SEQUEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17895, 24 September 1921, Page 7

SLANDER CASE SEQUEL.

DAMAGES OF £400 NOT PAID.

IMPRISONMENT ORDER SOUGHT.

A sequel to a slander action last month in which Mrs. Lelia L. J. Watson obtained 'a verdict against James Boyd for £400 damages was heard before Mr. Justice Adams in the Supreme Court yesterday, when Mr. Allan Hogg applied for an order under the Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Act, as the amount of the judgment had not been paid. When Boyd was called he said his name was John, not James, but admitted he was the defendant in the action. Examined by Mr. Hogg, Boyd stated he owned no property and had only about £1 in cash. He had been in ill-health, and had been unable to work for 18 months, receiving assistance from the Waterside Workers' benefit fund. He could not say how much money he had in the Post Office Savings Bank in November, 1919, when he had to deposit £25 with the Court as a surety for good behaviour toward the plaintiff, with whom he formerly boarded. It was not as much as £500, and he could not say if it was over £3CO. He closed his account three months ago when he drew about £50. He had been notified to produce his bank book in Court, but did not trouble to do so. Mr. Ho erg said he had reason to believe the debtor had £400 or £500 in the Savin irs Bank in November, 1919. He asked for an adjournment, in order to give the defendant further time in which to produce his bank book. The case was accordingly adjourned until October 20.