DAMAGES FOR SEDUCTION.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15271, 22 June 1923, Page 7

DAMAGES FOR SEDUCTION.

A DAUGHTER’S HONOUR. CASE FROM KING COUNTRY. An unusual case —an action for £SOO for the alleged seduction of his daughter Evelyn, was brought by Samuel Richard Johnson, farmer, of Owhanga, against Maurice Flfnn, farmer, of the same place, in the Supreme Court at Hamilton yesterday, before Mr Justice Herdman and a jury of 12. Plaintiff was represented by Mr G. P. Finlay and defendant by Mr J. F. Strang. The evidence went to show that Flynn was a visitor-to Johnson’s house, whQre, 18 montiis ago, he was introduced to plaintiff’s 17-year-old daughter, then home on holiday from Auckland, where she; was a companion to a lady. Defendant, a man over 30 years of age, became attached to the girl, and eventually illicit intercourse took place on many occasions. The girl said she was forced to accede to defendant's aggression on the first occasion, but Flynn declared there was no force and no resistance. Eventually he promised to marry her, but later on, discovering her condition, he denied responsibility. Several -scenes followed between plaintiff’s father and defendant, and Flynn, after the first of these scenes, declared to plaintiff that he (Flynn) was a mongrel for acting as tie did. Ho then again agreed to marry the girl, but finally refused to do so, on the grounds that he held grave doubts that he was responsible for her condition, and he accused her of being friendly with two other men. He stated, in a letter to iier father, that a marriage would only result in unhappiness and ultimately a divorce, and he thought ho was acting most wisely by stopping while there was yet time. Pending the present proceedings, ottier proceedings were taken by the girl in the Magistrate's Court at Taumarunui, in which- defendant was adjudged to be the. putative father of the girl’s unborn child. The jury, after a short retirement, returned with a verdict for damages for the full amount claimed.