BESEIGED BY BAILIFFS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1878, 13 April 1889, Page 3

BESEIGED BY BAILIFFS.

' An interesting case was heard before Mr Beetham in the R.M, Court at Christchurch on Thursday William de Weston sued Mr Henry, Reid, and a bailiff named H. Boardman for £2O for illegal distraint. His wife sued them for £ls damages. De Weston lives at St. Albans, and stood a regular seige from the bailiffs. Mrs de Weston said she signed a mortgage of her property some months ago to Eeid. The interest was due on March 23rd with some arrears, and about that date Reid wrote offering to take £9 10s if paid within 21 days. On March 25th Boardman came to her house, and her husband shut the door in his face. He came again, and left one man in the front outside the place and another at the back. He came on Tuesday about 8 o’clock, and walked up and down in front of the place. A drove of them came on Wednesday with a policeman, who stood on the otherside of the road. They jumped over the fence, broke in at the side door, which was locked, and witness, who stood in the doorway, was hurt by a ladder which struck her on the leg. The bedroom window was also broken. A man afterwards got in over the shed, and broke in the kitchen door. She was hurt, and her husband called out to’ her “ not to stay there to be killed.’ She retired, and they look possession. She valued the things taken at £l2, and had since had to pay a woman 5 s a day to do her work. Cross-examined: She was hurt when they broke open the door by the ladder which she had placed against the door striking her on the leg. Her husband threw some dirty water over one of the men. Further evidence showed that the bailiffs seized goods belonging to de Weston on account of his wife’s debt. It appeared that the husband and wife considerably over-valued the things taken. The bench gave judgment for plaintiffs’ in Mrs de \v Aston's - for £ll 10s, to be rouucad tc < £f; on return of the goods, and cos»a; * iu de Weston’s case for £1 2s, >o jbe reduced to Is on return of the I goods, and costs with fees in each case,