GIRL AWARDED £500

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19883, 9 March 1939, Page 5

GIRL AWARDED £SOO

SLANDER AND ASSAULT INCIDENT IN A SHOP SYDNEY, Feb. 7. A jury in the court of Mr. actingjustice Pitt, yesterday awarded £l5O for assault and £350 for slander to Lois Margaret Threlfo, aged 18, a waitress, in an action which she brought against McDowells, Limited. As the plaintiff had claimed only £250 for slander, leave was sought and obtained to make the necessary amendments to claim the amount awarded.

Plaintiff said that on April 8, 1938, she went to the shop of the defendants in King street, Sydney, to pay for and receive a hat which she had on the "lay by.” One of two women friends with her also wanted to buy a hat. She took delivery of her own hat. Her friend tried on some hats, and the three then went to other stores.

Later in the day, said plaintiff, they returned to the store of the defendants, where her friend made a "lay by” on a hat. Plaintiff said she took her own hat out of her bag and tried it on, and then put it back in the bag. As they were leaving the store a woman inspector seized her by the wrist and said, “Where did you get that hat?”

Plaintiff said she replied that she had bought it. The shop inspector then said, “Oh, no, you did not. You took it. I was watching you.” One of the plaintiff’s friends produced the receipt from the bag, which was shown to a principal of the firm, who said that everything was in order. The shop inspector then apologised.

Evidence was given by the shop inspector that she noticed the girls trying on the hats. She saw the plaintiff put a hat in the bag', and she believed that they were shoplifting. She followed them to the front of the shop, and merely tapped the plaintiff on the shoulder and said, “Excuse me. I saw you put, that hat in the bag.” The receipt was produced, and witness apologised. A stay of proceedings was granted on the application of the defendants.