AH INVOLVED ACTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22294, 21 June 1934, Page 6

AH INVOLVED ACTION

ARTICLES IN “GLORY BOX" COURT’S DIFFICULT TASK.

- • WELLINGTON, June 20. The hearing of three cases... arising *ut of the death of a young woman at- a time when she was engaged to be married was concluded in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court to-day before Mr, H. Pi Lawry., S.M. *.v Thomas Wood, a labourer, who was-en-gaged to marry Miss Ethel Tranter (deceased), claimed from her brother-inrlaw, Robert Leslie Chambers, a boilermaker, in whose home the deceased girl was living, the return of goods valued,at £l,O 2a 6d, which were in the girl’s possession at the time of her death. Alternatively he claimed the value of the goods, and m any case an additional £lO damages.- Harriett Wood, mother of the other plaintiff, claimed from Chambers the return of » bed mattress and an eiderdown valued at £9 15s, or else its value, plus £5 damages. She said that she had lent th* goods to Miss Tranter. y In a cross action Chambers : and his wife, Miriam Elizabeth Chambers, claimed from Harriett Wood and her husband, Ernest Wood, a storeman, £SO. for damages for alleged libel, holding . that in January, 1934, the defendants falsely and maliciously wrote regarding plaintiffs a letter sent to Mr and Mrs Tranter.in England. ' , . ..' - ■ ' . The first two actions, were heard, on Monday and the libel action-on Tuesday and to-day. .. Giving his decision in the cross, action, the magistrate awarded £2O damages and costs, totalling £9 7s 6d, to Chambers. In his opinion, he said, the letter was a defamatory statement. Mrs Wood ad-* mitted that when the letter was written she was “ feeling sore,” but when she had time to consider it she had not withdrawn any of her statements until she modified them in court that day. The hearing would satisfy the Chambers that there was nothing with which to reproach therm selves so far as the girl’s illness was concerned. The doctor s evidence on that point must be accepted. _ - In the action by Thomas Wood, Mr Lawry said that one article had been handed over, and gave judgment for £9 15s, the balance of the claim, plus.fl Is damages for . the detention of the, goods, and costs amounting to £4 16s. Chamber# had taken it upon himself to send the. goods out of his possession at a time when he knew that there was a legal claim pending for them. The magistrate, in the claim of Harriett Wood, ordered the specific return of the goods within 14 days, or alternatively the payment of their value assessed at £7. Ab damages for the detention of the goods £1 Is was allowed, with costs totalling £2 10s. '• V ; •;