A WIDOW'S CLAIM.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 792, 24 August 1916, Page 2

A WIDOW'S CLAIM.

INJURED BY A MOTOR CAR. VERDICT FOR THE PLAINTIFF. The hearing of the ease of Goodey v. Goodheart was concluded in the Supreme Court, before his Honour Mr Justiee Denniston anil a eoininon jury cf If, after The Sun went to press yesterday. The plaintiff was Rebecca Goodey. of Christchurch, a widow, 72 years of age, who sued Albert Goodhart, mar nger in Chiistehup-h for tiie Barne) Glass Tyre Company, for £SOO, for damages arising from her being knocKed down by defendant’s motor car. tloough, it was claimed, the negligence of the defendant r.i driving the car. 70r F. 'Wilding, K.C., with him Mr Cunningham, appeared for plaintiff, and Mr F. W. Johnston for defendant. The jury retired shortly before 5 p.m. ’ At <S p.m., the jury not having returned, his Honour instructed that it should be brought back to Court. The foreman announced that they had not arrived at a unanimous decision. His Honour: I have power to accept a three-fourths majority verdict, seeing ! that you have been away for three > hours. Have you agreed to the extent of nine votes to three? The Foreman; We have agreed by 11 j to 1 on the main issue. Counsel expressed willingness to ae- j cept the majority decision without fur- 1 ther retirement by the jury, but the foreman stated that the jury desired to retire for a little while, as the minor issues had not been settled. His Honour: The Act gives me power to accept a majority verdict, but I will agree to your retiring if there is any chance of arriving at an agreement. The Foreman; Judging by the last two hours, your Honour, there is no chance of securing a unanimous agreement. The jury again retired, and returned to Court at 8.30 p.m., when the foreman announced that the jury had agreed to a verdict for the plaintiff for £SO damages and £S2 7/- expenses, making a total of £132 7/-. Judgment was entered accordingly.