STORY QUESTIONED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 91, 17 April 1929, Page 6

STORY QUESTIONED

STATEMENTS DISHONEST MAGISTRATE’S COMMENT A disagreement between a proprietor of a-boardinghouse and a lodger resulted in a civil action which was heard before Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M., at the ’s Court yesterday. .Tames ■ Ross, of the Trafalgar Private Hotel, I claimed from Frederick Newth, printer, of Mangamahu, £l4 12s fid for board and lodging. The plaintiff further claimed £25 17s money alleged to have been lent bv him to the defendant between March 17, 192*8, and .Tune 9. 1928, which had not yeen repaid, and Ifis fid for cigarettes 'and matches. Mr P. Dickson appeared for the plaintiff and Mr Wills for the defendant. The plaintiff stated that the defendant came to stay with him on Afarch 16, 1928, and remained until June 9. He occupied his time in running about the. house talking to the maids, and helping to wash up the dishes. Witness did not arrange for Newth to work for him. The wife of the plaintiff stated that Newth used to help nt odd times about tho place. He was never asked to /help. As far as witness knew, the defendant did not. do any scrubbing or cooking. Money was advanced on the understanding that the plaintiff was going to participate in tho results of an invention of the defendant. The defendant stated that when ho hooked in at the boardinghouse he paid £4 17s fid for his board in advance. About a fortnight later ho was put off his employment and the plaintiff came to him and asked him to work for him. The defendant, agreed to do so and for 61 days he worked from C. 30 in tho morning to 7 o’clock at night. Witness did not pay any more board as he considered that he was entitled to be paid himself for his services. He received £9 and other sums from the plaintiff, which ho look-

ed upon as being on account of wages or his patent. Air Wills: Did you do any cooking? Defendant: Too right. I went to the newspaper office to get tho parchment to wrap the joint in. The defendant went on to say that he was not likely to live in a boardinghouse and ask for money when he had a home to go to. Boarders came to him and said, “ his is a good show while you arc on deck.” The girls also said, “Wo don’t know what wc would do without you.” Ho was not a member of the union and was not on the wages. Ross introduced him as his friend. The first intimation defendant received of any money owing was a bill for £2l and a letter signed, “Your old friend, Jim.” Defendant was quite satisfied to have the house and call the matter square as to wages and still allow Ross to participate in the benefits of the invention. While the book-keeping of the plaintiff was not conclusive, said the Magistrate, he accepted it. He had no hesitation in deciding that the defendant’s evidence was not only incredible but, in parts, dishonest. Judgment W'ould be for the plaintiff for the full amount.