EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS IN AN ENGLISH COURT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2078, 4 March 1889, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS IN AN ENGLISH COURT

I A domestic servant aaed her employer, • bank director, In the County Court at Portsmouth, for £5 6s, elleged to be doe for board. Judgi Leonard refused to accept the verdict of the jury for the plaintiff, maintaining that it was against the weight of evidence. A second trial was had and the second jury, after deliberating privately, came ipto Ooutr, and it was at once apparent with a verdict (or the plaintiff. The Jadge refased to let the forenoaa deolare the finding nntll the jury had answered two questions as to the oredibility of one of plaintiff's witnesses. The foreman angrily retorted that their doty was to give a verdict, not to express an opinion as to whether or not a witness had committed perjary, and said that they found that a contract bad been entered Into between defendant and plaintiff. After an altercation between the plaintiff's solicitor (Mr Feltham), the Judge, and the foretmn Mr Feltham said that he should claim the verdict which the jury were prepared to give for his client His Honor said that no verdiot would be given nntll h|B (juestlons were auswered, A jaror remarked that he was perfectly satisfied that the plaintiff should be awarded the claim, and he wonid stay there all night before he would give In. His Honor thereupon left the boucb, remarking wi\h great beat that be would return at ten o'olook that night. After an abcenoa of half an hour, however, he returned, and addressing the foreman, asked if the jury weie prepared to answet ! his questions. The forman lndignintlj I replied that the Interrogations were noi [relevant to the Isaue, and emphatically 'declined to answer. His Honor; Thee you are diaobtrqed. Mr Feltham applied for judgment on the finding of the original jury, pointing out that his olienl was a poor girl, and could ill afford to go to the expense of another trial. Two juries had already found for her. The Judge refaaed the application. There was muoh excitement In the Court, considerable reeling was Bhown among the solicitors present, and the action of tho Judge was adversely orlttaed.