ANOTHER PROCURATION CASE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3483, 12 April 1890, Page 2

ANOTHER PROCURATION CASE.

A SCANDALOUS AFFAIR. / At the K,M. Court, Woodville, on Thursday; August Wegner sued T. Gibson for £lO 103 for commission on procuring a housekeeper and bee hive.sold. ; ■Mr Gould for plaintiff, and Mr Tosßwill for defendant, August Wogner stated that defendant camo to him on August 7th at i Makotuku and asked him to; get a | housekeeper, Mr Barlow had sent him. They' went- together to see several women, but none would go. Afterwards they went to Pahiatua and to see Mr Barlow there, when Gibson told Barlow that he had done nothing for the 80s which Gibson had paid him, and. that he need no longer look out for anyone for Gibson as Wegner would get him one and he would give £lO instead of the £5 he

had promised' Barlow. There Wero several present at the time, Wegner went back to MakotuHu and found a Mrs Petersen who was willing to go as housekeeper to Gibson, and he wroto to the latter to come up. Gibson's mate, Elliott, wrote, back that he could hot cop just then, but

1 sent his own photo and said he had liked the girl's photo very muoh (Miss Petersen). There was a letter in the same envelope from -Gibson but witness hadM it; On September 1 12 th Gibson came Up to Makotuku to the housekeeper and asked witness., to help to pack her things on the' train, and they all went together. 1 Cross-examined': Elliott sent his photo because he wanted to marry the oldest of Mrs Petersen's girls. Hefirst spoko to Mrs Petersen about Gibson on August Bth. Jffe told her Gibson wanted a housekeeper and Elliott a wifo. Gibson was to give him £lO and Elliott £5. Ho had never done thissort ofbusiness before andbelieved he never would again. Ho uevermade any charge, the money was offered to him. He never met Gibson and Mrs Petersen together at the railway. Mrs Augusta Barlow gave evidence that Wegnor and Gibson were together | at her house and that Gibson had said that he would give Wegner £lO if he would get him a housekeeper instead of the £5 he had promisedher husband. Cross-examined: Was sure the word housekeeper was used. Gibson did not want a wife, he had one in Wellington.

Win. Barlow stated that Gibson had engaged him to find a housekeeper for £5, he was not to tell thetn that Gibson hail a wife in Wellington, but he could not find ft suitable one as Gibson wanted one without youngsters. Witness had gone to Makotuku to try to get 'one and Wegner had been helping him there. When witness could not suooeod ho gave Gibson a letter to Wegner. In a couple of days they both came to. witness' house and Gibson promised Wegner £lO if he could find a housekeeper for him.

Cross-examined: Had not been in the habit of doing this sort of business, but had got a wife for Jack Sommerfield, but had not been paid anything by him. Sommerfield had promised him £1 for it, if he had promised him £5 he would have sued him for the amount, Ho thought it was quite a proper thing to do, he would get Mr Tosswill a housekeeper if the latter promised him £5 or £lO.

August Barlow, son of the last witness, remembered the parties coming io his father's house and Gibson saying he would give Wegner £lO to get him a housekeeper, ,

: ' Mrs Wegner was called to prove the introduction of Gibson to Mrs Petersen by the plaintiff, and said he came to her house when her husband was in Napier, and she sent her daughter to bring Mrs Petersen down, Gibson did not know her

before. Cross-examined: Her husband was in Napier wlieu Mrs Petersen came to her house to meet Gibson, This witness was, to say tho least, very confused, and the Court, stopped her cross-examination, saying sue would say anything. Johanna Wegner, a bright little girl of about twelve, stated that Blie remembered Gibson coming on August 6th. She could not tell how she know it was tho sth August, She remembered being sent by her mother for Mrs Petersen to meet Gibson. Cross-examined:' That was the second time Gibson came to Makotuku, and he gave her a shilling to fetch Mrs Potersen. Did not know

what date that was. Mr Elliott was there too. Emilo Wegner, brother of the last

witness, gave corroborative evidonce. Robert Hewitt gave evidence. For tho defence Mr Tosswill submitted that it was absurd to say that a man would pay £lO for a housekeeper, if there was any . bargain it was for something very different, it must have been a contract for immoral purposes, Such a contract ought not to come before tho Court, Mr Gould denied it was a contract for immoral purposes, it had not been

even suggostcd by the evidence which Mr Tosswill had not been able to shake.

Jas. Gibson said lie met Wegner on 20th August for the first time. He gave him a letter from Barlow about some peas, that eveniug he saw a woman at the station {hat bo thought would make a housekeeper, i t was Mrs Petorsen, and he told her he wanted one. Afterwards Elliott and he went down to Makotuku and arranged with Mrs Petersen to come as housekeeper. He_ did so himself without any assistance. He never promised Wegner £lO for getting him a housekeeper. Cross-examined; The 26th August was the first timo he ever saw Wegner, it was atMftlsotuku, Went there to look for an engine) and partly to look for an housekeeper. Elliott and ho did not live together. Had never got Elliott' to write to Wegner. Did not go to Makotuku with Elliott. All the Barlows swore falsely, about the £lO. Went

down with Elliott and went to Mrs Wegner|s because liedid not know Mrs Petersen's house, Offered her child a shilling to show him. Had spoken, to Mrs Petersen before. Had told her at the.station that; ho wanted a housekeeper, That was his usual way of addressing a lady, it might not be Mr Gould's, Mrs Petersen did not reply, and lie went away. He did not know if she was married or not. Did not think he insulted lior, Engaged with her in her own house

the day Miss Wegner showed jt, Miss Wegpr ant} Ejljott wo both there when he made the arrangement with Mrs Petersen, Thomas. Elliott said that Gibson went to Makotuku on, 26th August, and on Brd September., Was with Gibson on the.latter date, tfefidwffl 1 him to see Mrs arranged that slie would goto Gibson, The letter signed by witness was on gibgou's hau'ess, I: wrote it. or

from Wogner to Gibson. Saw that - letter, it was to tho effect that .. Wegner wanted Gibson to meet a woman at Danevirke. Heard Wegner and Gibson Bay something about getting a housekeeper but they were both half drunk,, and he did not pay much attention to it. Gibson told witness after he. came back from ..Makotuku thefirsttime., that Barlow could not get him a housekeeper but he thought Wegner, I could. - Mrs Petersen Stated that ehe first saw Gibson at Makotuku Railway station, and he came and spoke to her, but she did hot answer 'him. Next she saw of him was at Essex's Hotel, and Wegner caMfcier to iler own house, .whore shejtwl , . Gibson, and Elliott, and agreoarogo ; . as housekeeper,, to Gibson;; Knew"' Wegner and,was quite certain she ' never spoke to him in August, lie had nothing to do with her going to : , Gibson as. housekeeper. Did not ' answer him at all, made all the arrangement with Gibson himself on beptember Brd. Wegner never, got her the. billet, never told Mrs Wegner . she was very thankful for his doing it.. Mr Gould asked the Court.to, take . * note of the defendant's: assertion that August 26th was the first date- on ; which he Baw Wegner, and also the •. faot that he was contradioted' by his own, witness about the letter to - Wegner. The Court nonsuited the: plaintiff ■ without costs on the ground'that the contract was not proved, and if there t was one it was for an immoral purpose. . . Masterton HospitalThe usual monthly meeting of the above institution was held in the Council Chambers yesterday afternoon, there being present—Messrs J . 0. Boddington (ohairmaii), J. lorns, B. P, Perry,, and tho Kev W.E. Paige. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Treasurer reported a oredit balance of £14218s 4d. , A cheque for £7 from the Jubilee j Celebration Committee was received | with thanks. A communication was read from a settler in the Forty-Mile Bush, who stated that he waß unable to meet the demand of tho Trustees for the sum of £2los, The only money he had earned for Bome timo was £ls on the sale of grass seed, and after '■! "cutting, cleaning, and [keeping six ' children" he could not afford to contribute to the funds of the Hospi. tal. He stated further that he had always assisted charitable objects, and frflpntly had subscribed to the funds of the local institution, After some disonssion it was deoided to take ; proceedings against the individual in question uuless the sum was paid withint reasonable time,

The Chairman reported that a visit had been paid to the Hospital by Mr Hislop (Minister for Education), Dr Maogregor, and Dr Brown. Dr Maogregor had made his visit early in the morning, and had found everything in the best of order. He expressed himself as highly pleased' with the conduct of the institution as a whole, and muck impressed with the skill and ability of the oustodian, Mr Williams.

It was decided that the presentation of the balance-sheet be mado at special meeting to be held next week,' The Chairman, after remarking i upon the high opinion held-by Dr $ Maogregor of their present custodian, and his own experience of his intelligence and kindliness to patients, moved tliat in recognition of servioea ' rendered to the hospital during the past twelve months, the salary of Mr Williams be increased by £lO per annum. Mr Perry seconded, 1

■ The Bev. W. E, Paige anil Mrlorns both agreed that the services of .Mr Williams were very valuable, and • the motion was then put and carried unanimously. Accounts amounting to £2815 ald were passed for payment. The Chairman intimated that tho present position of the hospital compared favorably with that of last year. The Custodian reported that there were at present six inmates of tho institution, five having beon admitted during the month, whilst two had been discharged and one died, On the motion , of the Chairman, seconded by the Rev. W. Jfe. Paige, -J it was decided to forward tho following expressionofsympathytoDr.Hosking.to! who had beon medical officer to tho hospital for thirteen years, in his late' ' bereavement. " The Trustees of the Masterten Hospital desire to express their deep sympathy with you in the sad bereavement you have sustained ; through the sudden death of Mrs Hosting, They feelassured that the memory of one who, during her life has.done so much to promote tho comfort and happiness of hor fellow creatures, will long bo retained by all whoso privilege it was to come in contact with her." The Chairman referred in eulogistic, terms to the interest, taken in hospital matters by the 'deceased lady. The Trustees then went into committee, and our reporter withdrew. BREVITIES,

Hospital Trustees, Bise iu custodian's salary; Favorable report of Dr Maegregor on local institution.

Mr A, W. Hogg practically announced himself for forthcoming election, „

What can it moan ? Is ho turning dog on Mac? h A sign of the times, So ffarratsed with work was a local barber that lio waß yesterday: found in his chair, embraced in the arms of slumber, The Australian ballot system is being adopted throughout the United States, '

Little Ja<jk; My ma has got a new {an, and its hand-painted." Mike: "Pooh, who care's! our old ferttV' _ The New Zealand racer, Oarane, is a wonder, Hd has just made two • more wins at the Australian Jockey ; Club's Autumn Meeting, . , A Boston tobacconist's.sign bears the artless inscription, " Cigara and cigarettes sold on the Sabbath for medioinal purposes' only," This howevor, is beaten by the proprietor of Western Siting' Kink, who advertises a "sacred dog fight'for Sunday," , , The epiJeuiic of." la grippe" is still ■ spreading in Melbourne. Several members of tha Ministry have been attacked by. tho disease, and at Port Melbourne a case has proved fatal, the victim sucoumbing after, a Illness of four days. r The Duka of Manehester's remains have been buried at Kimbolton, The Queen and the Prince; of Wales sent wreaths.

Says the Post j—lnfluenia wiia respocsible for, the failure to hold a meeting of the Coachbailders' Society', last night, r Bo many of tl)6 Members ; ere.i|l that ft Mg $ to4'(j" ■' ' ' m