A PECULIAR CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3782, 21 January 1908, Page 4

A PECULIAR CASE.

W< s Shu Sojel for a Boat .V A peculiar case was beard at Blenheim tbe oilier day. The case is reported at length ia the Marlborough Herald, which tells that the parties concerned were all residents of Queen Charlotte Sound. The plaintiff, James Hammond, claimed ft cm Caroline Pauline Campbell, of Elaine Bay, being the value of an o 1 launch. Plaintiff alleged that he sold defendant the launch for £lO, on the contingency that defendant’s daughter Elizabeth would be given to him in marriage. In support of plaintiff’s claim 0 daughter 1 of defendant gave evidence that she heard her mother and Hammond arrange that the latter should sell the boat for £ xo, with witness’s sister “ thrown in.” She had not made up the story because he had had a row with her mother and left home. De 1 nt, wile of John Campbell said tout Hammond came to her fair”, to wort, bringing a launch with him. The boat originally ;«..N,t £s2, and Hammond paid £22 ior it. He offered to sell it to her for ,£5, but she did not wish to rob him, and agreed to Hammond receiving and ihe pick of her dogs. The girl Elizabeth was no part in the d eal. Counsel kr defendant asked her i she ever promised Hammond her daughter. Defendant spiritedly n plied that she ‘ ‘ would not give one of her daughters to him, for he could n >t keep a dog, let alone a woman. Some of his dogs wanted cruches.” Plaintiff, in bis evidence, said Mrs Campbell made overtures to him to part with and the girl tor the boat. Not wishing to do anything rash, he saw the girl next morning, and asked her if she would be his wife. The girl said “ Right, so long as mother is willing.” Mrs Campbell and her daughter had since told him to ‘‘clear out.” As soon as they had got alljjtheyl could out of ! im they told him to go. Witness ban only once mentioned the subject, of matrimou}' to the girl after the receipt was sign id. Dhl not com - m tni . i',e with the girl aker cc Ml, but bought her all the clot fro she would need. The wedding was supposed to take place within five months. Counsel: Why did you not go back to Campbell’s—you did not prove a very ardent lover ? Witness: I was told that if I went there I would be shot. Plaintiff was non-suited, with costs amounting to £6.