AN UNUSUAL CASE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1910, 19 November 1913, Page 6

AN UNUSUAL CASE.

HOTELKEEPEB AND .BOABDER.

EBy Tclograph.=--Sp.bcial' CtofcrcTOonden't.) Waoganui, November 18. An Un-usuai case, bat oho of consider* njblo interest to the -travelling jiublio and ' keepers flf hbiis.es was heard by Mr, iverfc S.SL, yesterday, ' ■ tflion Mr, D. Hntehlns:, solicitor, of Saw Plymouth, sued "VV. i|. Halliday, Jiepiisep of C.bs.vaniies Hptel, \V:auga- . nui, for the Sum of £6, alleged to haivo booh stolen .from plaintiff .staying at tiro defendant's hotel last .September. The- hotel at the tipio was crowded with race visitors., and the plaintiij bad bceij Accommodated with a shako* down in oiio of t'lie passages. He stated iii evidence thaij lie- put- his coat and vest, cpnt.aiuing toe money, under his pillow. Next morning he went to tire- bathroom,, leaving tho coat o.ii.the ' bod. JJex't day* on'aitivifig. a£ New , Plymouth.-, ho found that tlip money was- ! massing, ifiid, contending that tlio de= fendant ■bo'telkeppoj' was .responsible for the--lo.ss-j iii. failing, to keep liis valuables safe, ho sued for' th.o .roc'pvory. Dofofldariti in the course of his ovidoftce, said he expected t-Ue plaintiff to take the ordinary cammon-senso pre* cautions of ahyo.no in similar cjreimi-' stances. i The Magistrate said- the whole caso' was one olfacta, and wliethor. tlie facts proved that plaintiff had acted prudently or otherwise Hinder the circumstances, lie thought tlip circuiiistanccs ought to ■ii-a'Vo. .suggested' to .plaintiff tiiat ho siiduld have handed ihe valuables to the 'hptelkefiper for sa'f-p. keeping, or that ho should have tak.eii themi With lijin to tho ' bathroaiH the nest morning. Ko lipid that the -plaintiff had not .acted prudently, and was not'oiititlod to recover. Judgment -was given fpr defendant with costs. ..