HIGH-HEELED BOOTS

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2967, 28 September 1882, Page 3

HIGH-HEELED BOOTS

|l |Women who wear high-heeled boots, do so not only literally, but legally, at their peril, according to a recent decision at Home. This point was solemnly decided by Mr Justice Denman and a jury, in the case of Mrs Bland, of Woolwich; who, while embarking at Brighton on a steamboat, tripped up on the gangway over a concealed obstruction, in the shape of a roll of tarpaulin,carelessly left there,and seriously injured herself. Mrs B.land brought a suit for compensatory and exemplary damages”. During the examination of Sr Butler, the medical

witness, Mr Justice Denman asked him if he had noticed the heels _ of Mrs Bland’s boots when he examined her. Witness answered that, to the best of hie belief, they were reasonable. _Mr Justice Denman then said he asked Ihe question because the absurdly high-, heeled boots which were worn by ladies now, seemed to be built on purpose to cause accidents. In the epd the jury found that whatever the negligence of the steamboat officials might have been, Mrs Bland, by her high-heeled boots, had wantonly and wilfully contributed to cause the injury of which she complained, and therefore absolved the proprietors. On the same principle a lady who mjy t® thrown down and injured through the; overweening length of her tram must take the consequences without redress.