FRIENDS FALL OUT.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1916, Page 7

FRIENDS FALL OUT.

A CLAIM FOR BOARD, At (he S.M. Court yesterday afternoon before Mr. A. CVooke, Olive Eva, for whom Mr. Wilson appeared, claimed .CI! ]f« from Evelyn Meeds, who was represented by Mr. A. H. Johnstone. This case was a claim for board and lodging. Plaintiff and her husband were I living at Hawera early in the year, and defendant was also at Hawera and an agreement was come to that defendant should be boarded for 15s a week. In March Miss Meeds got employment at the Red House hotel, and a few days after was asked for payment, which she refused to make. Olivo Eva, wife of Harry Eva, horsetrainer, said that in January last Miss Meeds was employed at Mrs. Goodson's at Hawera, but she left there over a quarrel. She came to witness's house on January 27 and took up her residence. Then witness left Hawera, and came to New Plymouth, defendant accompanying hex. Defendant stayed with witness until March 10. Had asked her for payment before she left, and also after she had got employment. Mr. Eva was present when she rendered defendant an account a week after. She again asked witness to wait for her money. Have asked her for payment several times since but defendant told her to go to h—l. Had had other boarders. In Hawera witness took in sewing. Defendant bad stayed with witness previously, a.i a gviCßt, for a fortnight. Had allowed defendant a week off from the bill. By Mr. Johnstone: Defendant had stayed with witness when first came to Hawera. Had been fairly friendly with defendant Uf to the time defendant left her house. Witness objected to a young man who was friendly with defendant coming to her hotase drunk. Counsel showed an anonymous letter to plaintiff, who declared that it was :iot in her writing. She did not know anything about the contents of another. Witness's house in Hawera was a very old one and bad been condemned. In I'almerston North she had a two-roomed house, but there were four bedrooms in the stable. Miss Canton stayed with witness for 3§ weeks in Hawera; this was in 1015. Did not invite defendant to come to New Plymouth with her, r.or did she invite a Miss Johnston to come. Had not told anyone that Mis Meeds was welcome to a home with her at any time; had stipulated that she must pay her board, Harry Eva, horse-trainer, remembered ms wife asking defendant for her boird I'his was in the dining-room. Defendant said plaintiff would have to wait; she did not deny liability. By Mr. Johnstone: Thought his wife had rendered an account for £3 15s ,in March. Could not explain why in August a lawyer's letter had been sent to defendant asking for payment for £4 10s. It must have been a mistake. Defendant said she would see witness's wife in h— before siie would pay it.

Mr. Johnstone said that the case for the defence was that Miss Meeds was staying in Hawera as a guest of tiie plaintiff. They had been very friendly, and defendant had helped with the children and the house. Then trouble arose through defendant choosing her own friends, and this ease is the result. Evelyn Meeds said she was a waitress at the Red House hotel. In Palnierston plaintiff asked her and her friend not to go to Hastings but to go with her to Hawera. Subsequently visited Hawera and stayed a week and a-half with plaintiff. When witness left her situation, Mrs. Eva asked her to stay with her; witness did so. helped with thu packing, and came to New Plymouth and stopped with Mrs, Eva till she got her present situation. Would swear that an account had never been rendered her for board; the letter from Wilson and Gray was the first intimation she had had. Had been friendly with plaintiff up to July 31. when she broke friendship because of an anonymous letter she had received and of some untruths plaintiff lad told. Mrs. Eva came to witness on July 31 and asked what date she had gone to stay with her in Hawera, and the following day she got the legal demand. By Mr. Johnstone: Absolutely deny the statement of the previous witnesses about being asked for payment. Asked Mr. Eva in the Red House hotel if Mrs. Eva would have sent the account if it had not been for the row, and he replied "undoubtedly not." Did not use the expression alleged, but had said that if it had not been for Mrs. Eva's state of health she would give her «, thrashing. Admitted having told Mrs. Eva at the [New Plymouth races that she "wouli 'take it out of her hide." Dorothy Maher, employed at the Red House hotel, detailed a conversation she had overheard in the street between the parties on July 20, when Mrs. Eva told defendant there was always a home for her with her (plaintiff), and that if the latter went away Miss Meeds would have to go with her. John Eva, a jockey residing at roy, and brother-in-law of plaintiff, said he resided at his brother's place at tht time Miss Meeds stayed there. Knew Miss Meeds was there as a guest. Had a quarrel with his sister-in-law who wanted him to tell some lies about defendant and he. left the house. Had not seen defendant very frequently of late. By Mr. Wilson: Witness was stopping with his brother in Hawera when Miss Jvleeds arrived on the first occasion. Did not know what arrangements had l.een made, about the second visit. Ili3 Worship said that the case was a most extraordinary one. The onus of proof was on plaintiff, hut he was not satisfied with her evidence, and she had failed to prove her ease. She was therefore nonsuited, with costs ,£1 lis against 'jer.