FARTHING DAMAGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20656, 30 August 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

FARTHING DAMAGES.

VERDICT FOR SCHOOLGIRL.

SUIT AGAINST HEAD-MISTRESS. SEQUEL TO AN EXPULSION, Before the Lord Chief Justice and a special jury in a London Court last month tho hearing was concluded of the libel action brought by Miss Mollio Frances Hunt, of Elm Grovo, Guernsey, suing through her aunt, Mrs. IT. A. Hobson, as her next friend, against Miss Kathleen May Damon, tho head-mistress of a girls' school at Upper Chine, Shanklin, Islo of Wight. Miss Hunt's caso was that while she was <i pupil at tho school Miss Damon objected to her having a friendship with Miss Widdowson, a member of tho staff, and waa annoyed because she wrote two lettors to Miss Widdowson during a holiday. She accused Miss Hunt of boing disloyal, and later said that Miss Hunt had ridiculed tho interview to tho girls in the dormitory. As a result Miss Hunt was expelled from tho school and Miss Damon wrote to her mother and aunt making allegations of disobedience, and disloyalty. Miss Damon, giving evidence, said that Miss Hunt refused to obey rules, made friendships of which witness did not approve, gave up games, resigned from tho Girl Guides, and withdrew herself from most of the school activities. When spoken to privately Miss Hunt was penitent, but whon in public she became sullen. Aftor the coming of Miss Widdowson, said Miss Damon, she found that Mollio was frequently out of tho classroom and hanging about in passages. She asked Miss Widdowson not to encourago her. Miss Widdowson's reply was that Mollio's attentions were unwelcome and she resentod them, as thoy mado her look ridiculous before other members of tho staff. Expression of Penitence. Miss Damon spoke of Mollio refusing to obey the orders of tho nurse who looked after her whon sho had influenza and of a " long and painful " interview which she had with Mollie on Good Friday afternoon. Mollio, she said, was penitent and cried and promised to turn over a new leaf. Yet in tho evening during tho devotional part preceding a passionplay which was performed at the school, Mollio behaved very badly and Miss Damon had to send her out of the room for talking and giggling. Subsequently, after careful consideration sho decided to send Mollio away. " There was 110 other course open," said Miss Damon. " I did it for tho protection of the discipline of tho school."

Miss Maud Widdowson, a trained nurse, said that since September, 192&, she has been sister matron at the school. While she was bandaging Mollie Hunt's injured ankle, Mollie said that it was nico to have someone kind to her. Then she started to cry and complained that she was unhappy at school and at home.

" I kissed her and tried to comlort her," said Miss Widdowson.

After that Mollie used to send her notes and asked to be allowed to sit next to her at the breakfast table. To three of tho notes Miss Widdowson replied. " I told her," sho said, "to pull herself together and not to make a fool of herself." Mollio lent her a gramophone, Miss Widdowson added.

Miss Widdowson said that Miss Damon asked her not to encourage Mollio, and sho replied that sho had not done so and did not liko Mollie's attentions at all. " Mollie," she said, " used to stop mo every time I went up or down to tho school. It made ino a laughing stock." She asked Miss Damon to speak to Mollie in her presence, and Miss Damon did so, asking Mollio to "stop it." Mollio promised to do so. " Never Fond ol Mollie."

Asked why she took two letters which she received from Mollie to Miss Damon, Miss Widdowson replied, " It would have been disloyal to tho school if I had not after all that had happened." Cross-examining counsel: Did you kiss Molio from time to time ?—No, I have only kissed her twice in my life.

Miss Widdowson said that Mrs. Ilobson, Mollio's aunt, once told her that she thought Miss Damon had a " down " on Mollie, and Miss Widdowson replied, " If you think that why don't you send her to another school ?" Miss Widdowson said that she was never fond of Mollie. She liked her for about three weeks. She did not believe Mollie was fond of her.

Did you think that Mollie was hanging out of windows after you to try to make a fool of you ? —I think she hr«,d tried to make a fool of a good many beforo me. Miss Widdowson said that she thought that Mollio was trying to make a fool of her after tho first three weeks.

Miss Marion Phillips, a pupil, said that after ati interview with Miss Damon Mollio Hunt went to the dormitory and laughed about it. Miss Damon, she said, had nsked her to promise to improvo in her behaviour. She added that Miss Damon would not expel her because she was afraid of Mollie's aunt, and. as it was her last term she intended to get the best time out of it that sho could. The Girl and Her Promise.

" We got the impression," said Miss Phillips, " that she did not intend to keep her promise to Miss Damon." Mollie, added Miss Phillips, told a new girl, Isabel Tilley, that sho would have a good time as a new girl, but that when sho got a bit older sho would not be allowed to make her own friends or enjoy herself. Miss Phillips said she reported what had occurred to Miss Damon. In cross-examination, Miss Phillips said that she did not remember anyone calling Miss Widdowson " an old cat."

Counsel: There would bo nothing unusual iti one of tho staff being called " an old cat " ?—Well, wo do not usually use tho expression every day. (Laughter.) The jury found that the letters were not defamatory and were written without malice, but they found that Miss Damon expelled Mollie Hunt without reasonable cause and awarded ono farthing damages for that.

Tho Lord Chief Justice said that ho would not give judgment until ho had hoard tho legal arguments arising out of the jury's vordict.