UNPROFITABLE LAW

New Zealand Tablet, 9 May 1912, Page 62

UNPROFITABLE LAW

It is a curious fact that many men, level-headed enough about other things, seem to lose their wits entirely when they become involved in lawsuits. In a case recently concluded in. the German courts a Berlin merchant paid out over £IBO to recover the value of a five-cent. postage stamp. ‘ He had written a letter asking for an address and enclosing postage for reply. Failing an answer,. he sued for the stamp. The famous Missouri watermelon case was as trifling and even more 'disastrous. The seed was planted on one farm, but the vine crept through a crack in the fence and the melon grew on the other side. Both farmers claimed it, and instead of perceiving the humor of the situation, they went to law. To add to the puzzling features? of the * question of ownership there was the further complication- in that the fence stood on a county line, whereupon a question of the jurisdiction of the courts came up. The farmers bankrupted themselves without obtaining a decision as to the ownership. ~ ' V- 5