CASE AGAINST MINISTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18965, 12 March 1925, Page 12

CASE AGAINST MINISTER.

PURCHASE OF MOTOR-CAR. NON-SUIT WITH COSTS. [Br TEI.ECR.\PH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. Before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., at Wellington to-day, George Ayson, architect, sued tho Rev. Samuel Robertson Orr for £4O, in respect of a motor-car sold by him to defendant. For plaintiff it was stated, that Orr purchased the. car in 1923 for £l5O, and took it for a demonstration. Later, Orr informed Ayson that tho battery of the car bad been stolen, and offered £llO, which was accepted. Plaintiff alleged that the statement that tho battery was missing was false and fraudulent, and made recklessly by Orr to induce plaintiff to sell at a lower figure. The battery was afterwards found in defendant's house by the. policeIn evidence, plaintiff said Mr. Orr subsequently asked him to sign* a statement that lie "was satisfied with the price received for the car, and he refused. Orr locked the door of the room and detained him for siome time. Mr. A. B. Sievwright, for defendant, said his client and wife would deny the statements of plaintiff, which wero entirely from his imagination. Plaintiff denied that he had got rid of a " dud " car on Orr, and it was for that, reason that he declined to buy it back at the price paid. Ho wished Onto defend tho action, and had not commenced proceedings to catch Orr just, before he left. If Orr had enough money to go to England he had enough to pay plaintiff. Plaintiff refuted a suggestion by Air. Sievwright that the case was a "species of blackmail," and denied writing anonymous letters to members of Orr's congregation. Detective Murray gave evidence as to Orr misunderstanding the position of the accumulator and battery, and thought they were'different. At the afternoon resumption, Mr. Scott asked for a non-suit as he was unable to secure the attendance of three essential witnesses. The case would be proceeded with, be said, when defendant returned to the Dominion. Mr. Sievwright asked .for costs and expenses of his client. A non-suit was granted and defendant was allowed £9 5s expenses for travelling from Auckland, costs and solicitor's fee, £ls 3s in all.