DAMAGES AWARDED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17217, 7 December 1923, Page 11

DAMAGES AWARDED.

CONDUCT NOT TOLERATED. By TelesTaph—Prose Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. V LONDON, December 5. The Chief Justioe and a special jury heard the claim of Mrs Abbott for damages against Garroulds, drapers. Edge ware Road, for false imprisonment and for trespass. Plaintiff complained that while she was an employee of Garroulds she was called into the office and questioned by detectives with reference to the theft of two rolls of silk. Although she told all she knew tfie detectives did not believe her. They made her accompany them to her flat, which they ransacked. The defence w r ae that the firm was not responsible for the manner in which the police carried out their duties. , Detective Harney declared that plaintiff invited the detectives to search her flat, if they thought that the stolen property was there. The Chief Justice, summing up, said that if the plaintiff’s story were true she had been treated with cynical disregard for her dues. Her rights had been invaded and her dignity grossly affronted. It was a case in which tho jury, if it chose, could award substantial damages, to make it plain that defendants had been guilty of conduct that no British jury would tolerate. The jury awarded plaintiff £SOO and judgment was entered accordingly. Stay of execution was refused.