OWNERSHIP OF HORSE.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18806, 30 November 1932, Page 8

OWNERSHIP OF HORSE.

CLAIM BY A WIDOW.

ACTION IN SUPREME COURT.

JUDGMENT FOR PLAINTIFF. (By Telegrapn.—Press Association.) > CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday. Whether William George Deyell agreed to give F. A. Neale a halfshare in Red Shadow, the well-known trotting horse (which half-share Neale transferred to John Grieve, an engineer), was ihe main question involved in an action in the Supreme Court this morning. The plaintiff was Emily Frances Grieve, widow of John Grieve, who died in August, and defendant was William George Deyell. Mr Justice Ostler was on the Bench. Regarding the agreement concerning his half interest in Red Shadow, Neale said he thought that Deyell and he signed with their own ink pencils. After the death of Grieve, witness saw Deyell, who at that stage did not know of the assignment to Grieve. Witness had become bankrupt by that time. Grieve did not want the horse registered in his name because be was a public servant and lie thought wit- j ness would be better treated by Deyell than Grieve would be in the matter of expenses and so on. j At this stage, His Honour, address- i ing Air Donnelly, said that the evi- • deuce for plaintiff had been a most , circumstantial story and it was cor-.-*' roborated by a document that was con- J sistent with Neale’s story. The Judge had had an opportunity of comparing the signatures, and if it were a forgery it was a marvellously good one. His Honour intimated that if Deyell swore that the signature was a forgery arid His Honour found it was genuine, he would have no hesitation in commuting Deycll for perjury. Judgment for Plaintiff. When the Court resumed after the luncheon adjournment, counsel for defendant said: “After what Your Honour said before the adjournment! put the position before-my client, who has instructed me not to offer any, evidence or conduct the case further.” “I see,” returned His Honour. "Oh, well, if that is the case, I must give judgment for plaintiff.” Judgment was given for plaintiff, declaring that she was half owner of Red Shadow and ordering that tha horse should be registered accordingly and that plaintiff should receive a half-share in the slake money. Costs were allowed against defendant as on an action for £IOOO.