A STRANGE CASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 2 December 1912, Page 5

A STRANGE CASE.

ARREST OF A DOCTOR

(By Telegrupn—j. ress Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night.

"i have only recently been instructed.',: said Mr T. M. Wilfo'rd at the Magistrate's Court on Saturday morning, "but if my instructions are correct, tin's* is a most unwarrantable abuse of the procedure of the Court, when the procedure is used to arrest a. medical man and his wife within a few hours of their sailing for England. This process is abused." 'Hie caso under discussion wag before Mr W. G. Hiddell, S.M., arid the facts, as detailed by defendant's counsel, were that Dr Storey, who had been for some time assisting in the medical administration a t Rarotonga, left the islands some weeks back with his wife, and has since been staying at the Grand Hotel. He purchased tickets for the voyage home to England, and was to have sailed by the s.s. Surrey on Saturday, with . hi. s wife. Qo Friday evening the doctor and his wife were, arrested, and placed :n the custody of the bailiff of the Court. The writs were issued on the plea of Eugene Fischer and W. H. Grove, both of Auckland. Fischer claims £25, being money lent and interest, and Grove claims £2B, money due in payment for a buggy which witness ordered in August of, last year. This vehicle, said defendant's solicitor, did not come to hand until January cf this year, when defendant .said that he would not accept delivery. It was not delivered and he knew nothing more about the matter until he' was arrested. .Or .Storey also contended that plaintiffs were absolutely cognisant of his movements, and could easily have commenced proceedings in time and not just, prior to his departure from New Zealand. As to the b"ggy, his wife had told Grove, with whom sbeh'ad dealings 'that although she. did not want it, she would take it off his hands, and he could take by way of exchange a quantity or copra, or produce from her plantations, ft was explained that Mrs Storey ha,s a freehold property valued at between £2OOO and £3OOO, and that she sends her copra to Auckland. However, no more was'heard' from Groves about the matter until the warrant was issued. The other amount was contracted on a note of hand by Mrs Storey in August of 1910, before her marriage, and she claims that she discharged this liability absolutely, and borrowed no more from Fischer.

Mr C. H. Iz,ard, who appeared for plaintiffs, said that he had telegraphed to Auckland, asking if the defendants should be held in custody, and he had received a reply that the debts were absolutely due and that this course was to bo followed.

Mr Biddell; S.M. } stated that undoubtedly it was a case in which plaintiffs should bo nonsuited. This would be done.

The defendant's solicitor: I ask for costs, your Worship.

My lliddell: Costs will be allowed against the plaintiffs, two guiflea* «». *#ch charge.