What Became of the Damages?

Manawatu Herald, 11 February 1893, Page 3

What Became of the Damages?

A singular action was tried in the Bloomsbury County Court, in which a holder for value of a provisory note sought to recover the amount against Mrs Prager, nee Gladys Kuowles, the plaintiff in the " Matrimonial News" breach of pnrnisn case. The main question was whether the defendant had any separate estate, as she had executed an assignment of the whole of her resources to her husbmd, who is a dentist.— Mr Prager was called and said ho had received £4,000 from his wife before marriage, the proceeds of the breach of promise action. -Mr Walker : Who first suggested yon should have it ?— Witness : My wife, Miss Knowles. — Upon whose wish was- it made ? Entirely at her own wish. 1 had known Miss Knowles for some time. - Do you mean that Miss Knowles gave yon £4,000 without suggestion ? Yes, it was her own wish to make it over to me. The assignment was made before the money was received. I made no enquiries, and had no reason to. (Laughter,) -Is it usual for young ladies to make presents of large sums of money ? I have never had it before. (Laughter) In reply to further questions the witness said his solicitors drew up the assignment at Miss Knowles's instigation. She happened to be at his surgery when his solicitor called about his teeth, and Miss Knowles was there for the same purpose.— Mr Walker: Are your clients in the habit of giving you large sums of money ? It has never occurred before. The money was given to me as a surprise. 1 asked her why she did it, and the reply I had was that she could trust no one else. (Laughter.) — What have you paid her out of the money '? I do not think anything. — Letters were put in in which Miss Knowles before her marriage with Mr Prager asked her solicitor's advice as to investing the money. This was after the assignment was made.— Mr Lynch submitted that the assignment was good and was made at the time these people were engaged to be married. They were married seven months after the assignment was made. — Mr asked his honour to say that the ass-ignment was a bogus one, executed for the purpose of defeating Mrs Prager's creditors. — His honour held that the assignment was a good one, and appeared to be in respect of a portion of the judgment of £6,500, which Mrs Prager before marriage recovered under the judgment. Thero would be judgment for the defendant.—Notice of - appeal was given. :