ENORMOUS DAMAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 7, 3 July 1911, Page 5

ENORMOUS DAMAGES.

FOR SELLING WORTHLESS SHARES. By Cable—Press Association —Copyrieht London, June 30. Before the King's Bench. Mrs. Eleanor Curtis, the executrix of her father, the late Mr. R. Master, a retired civil servant, sued Horatio Bottomlcy for £57,835, which she alleged he obtained by selling deceased worthless shares. Defendant denied misrepresentation. A verdict was given for plaintiff for £50,000 damages. A stay of execution was granted on condition the full amount was paid into coiirt within a week. CONSPIRACY AND PLUNDER. Received 1, 5.5 p.m. London, July 1. The evidence in ,the worthless shares case showed that Master met Bottomley .through the latter writing saying he wished to help those who liad lost money in previous Bottomley companies. Master lost £90,000 in share dealingb with Hooley and Bottomley in connection with investments in the John Bull Investment Trust Agency, Carter's Deep Leads and other companies. Practically ail the shares were worthless. Hooley compromised in the Curtiss action. Bottomley would ,not go into the witness-box. Plaintiff's counsel stated that Bottomley "sucked the poor, the old, the deaf, and the infirm dry." For five months Hooley and Bottomley were conspirators together, and shared the money received in connection with the companies with which they were identified.