SUIT AGAINST A DUKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21774, 13 October 1932, Page 16

SUIT AGAINST A DUKE

LAND AGENT’S CLAIM FAILS. A claim for £3097 by Mr Alfred Harbert against the Duke of Marlborough was dismissed with costs in a London court lately. Mr Harbert stated that from 1910 to 1922 he was the duke’s financial secretary in connection with farming operations on the Blenheim Estates, Oxford, and from 1922 to 1930 he was estate agent. He declared that the duke made an oral agreement to employ him instead of chartered accountants to conduct negotiations for tax relief, and that he should be paid 5 per cent, on sums recovered. In all, he alleged, lie recovered £61,951. Counsel for the duke stated that what Mr Herbert did was in his ordinary duties. The duke gave evidence denying the alleged agreement, and mentioned that a firm of accountants had always been responsible for work in respect of his income tax matters. Mr Justice M'Cardie pointed out that throughout the correspondence between the duke and Mr Harbert over a long range of years there was no hint by Mr Harbert of the alleged agreement. _ i “ I cannot help feeling,” he continued, "(hat Mr Harbert thought that by bringing the matter into court he might force (lie duke to pay something rather than have publicity. I am satisfied that this alleged agreement was never made.”