UNUSUAL COURT SCENE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10603, 4 November 1910, Page 4

UNUSUAL COURT SCENE.

(Per Press Association.) ""Wellington, November 3... ; .. A somewhat unusual civil action was heard _in the Magistrate's Court this morning -before Mr W. R. Haselden, SjVI., wheii G. T.' Croft, of P.etone, builder, claimed £4B 15s,' from his son, William" Croft, of Waituvia. West, Feildiug, also, si .builder.- Plaintiff, iillegetl that his son owedhim 42 weeks' boara and lodging at 16s a week from April, 1906, to February," 1907, tor washing at Is 6d a weelv fob the same period, £lO alleged to have been lent,, and £2 lor,a fishing tackle and rifle ;sad to have been left with defendant for sale. . , Mr Peacock appeared' for .plaintiff, and Mr 1. M. Wilfoijd for defendant., . . . Plaintiff's case was that his son livpd with him from 1903 to the end pf 1905, when. Croft, jun., 'went to England, returning in April, 1906, ''practically penniless," said counsel. He came to his father and asked the latter to keep him, aid the father agreed to take - the wanderer home again, on the same, terms as before,' 16s a week, but said lie would hot press for payment until his son was in a position to pay. Defendant. was iow earning £4 a- week as cleric of works for' the Wangamii Ediication Board. - . * Plaintiff nearly fainted during crossexamination by counsel for the defen-. daht, and had', to retire. " •The case for the defence was that Croft, jun., had always paid his board. The £lO claimed *as "money lent" was really owing to him byj his father as architect's feq in, drawing plans, of a house owned, by Croft, sen., after he had asked for. the -usual, fee.of £l2 lQs,; that defendant himself had to provide for the family after'plaintifF had turned, them out; that the "washing" had never been, paid .by -plaintiff.at all; and that the, fishing, tackle and rifle had not been sold by defendant, but were left where plaintiff..had deposited them. .'. Afjtei: hearing, evidence, without two , witnesses, for the defence being called, his; Worship; gave judgment for the defendant, with costs..,and expenses totalling £6 7s. I