THREE GIRLS AND A MAN.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1004, 3 June 1909, Page 20

THREE GIRLS AND A MAN.

At Palmerston on Thursday, Mr. Justice Chapman, in the Supreme Court, heard the slander case in which Irene Ralston claimed £3OO damages from Henry and Annie Baker, L'annevirke, hotelkeepers. Plaintiff said she was a barmaid, and had been employed by the defendants. She started on New Year’s Day, and on the evening of Sunday, January 10th, after having been out for a drive, plaintiff and two other girls went into the parlour to demand an explanation from Mrs. Baker for statements she was alleged to have made reflecting on their chastity. Mrs. Baker replied that defendant had misconducted herself, and complained that all of the girls were in the habit of entertaining men at supper in their bedrooms. One of the girls replied that there was no other place to have supper, and that seeing that there were three girls and only one man at that supper, no harm could be done. Mrs. Baker replied that there certainly could be harm, and her husband then told her that her tongue would be getting her into trouble. The statements were made in the public passage of the hotel in a loud voice. Defendants had also threatened to nail up the windows and lock the doors of the girls’ bedrooms, and give the keys to the waitress to unlock the doors in the morning. There was absolutely no truth in the statements made by defendants. May Hall, one of the girls at the hotel, corroborated plaintiff’s evidence. They had had a man to supper that night, but not in plaintiff’s room. His name was Vaile, and he worked with his brother at the hotel stables., Plaintiff slept with witness that night. His Honor did not call on the defence, and dismissed the case.