The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-06-06 00:00:00

TfiE STOURRAIDGE OBSERVER.

a large estate near Stourbridge, in Worcestershire
where he was also a Justice of the Peace. Mr.
Scott appeared to like his country house, while
Mrs. Scott prefered one in town. While he was
quiet and studious, she was fond of foreign travel.
and seeing the the world. In the latter part of
1872, Mr. Scott was at his country place, cud Mrs.
Scott at her house in the vicinity of Regent's
Park. She wished to go on a tour on the Con-
timent with her young son, and she applied to the
Commissioners of Police for some one to take
care of her house in her absence. In conse-
quence of that she entered into an agrement with
the plaintiff, to the effect that he his wife and
her mother should take charge of the house, at
10s. a week, fire and light not found. Until the
departure of Mrs. Scott she was to board Mrs.
Holmes and her mother, and pay them 10s. per
week as serf ants. At that time she intenued to
go in January, 1873; but after they came into
the house she said she did not intend to go until
the time for taking charge of the house ; where
upon Mrs. Scott threatened him that if he did no-
stay she would sue him under the agreementt
Being a policeman, and anxious to obey the law
he stayed. At the time of her departure, on the
let of February, Mrs Scott expressed herself
satisfied with plaintiff and his family. It was
important to remember that, because in July,
she charged plaintiff with tobbery, she said that
she knew in January that the opera. glass had
been stolen. The learned counsel then read a
number of letters from Mrs. Scott to plaintiff's
mother-iu-law, written from various places in
England and on the continent, and giving direc-
tions about the house and the forwarding of let-
ters and parcels. On her return, she aiade the
charge which formed the subject of the present
action.

The plaintiff was called, and supported the
opening of the learned council. He said that
shortly after Mrs. Scott's return he waited upon
her in the dinning room, and, presenting his
account, said they desired to leave us soon as
possible, owing to the state of his wife's health.
She then said that something unpleasant had
occured, that an opera-glass and filter had been
stolen from her bed room, that she looked upon
him as tbe thief, and that he had opened a letter
addressed to her. He thereupon called in Isis
wife and mother-in-law, and Mrs. Scott repeated
the charge it their presence.
. .

At the-end of theaplaintiffs case.
His Lordship said his impression was that the
coununnicatiou was privileged, and there was no
evidence of malice. He would, therefore, non-
suit the plaintiff, and give him leave to move the
Court to enter the verdict for him for 1.25. Non-
suit entered.

On Suturday, in Banco, before Chief Justice
Lord Coleridge and Justices Brett and Demean,
Mr. Tore moved tie Court for a rule culling up-
on the defendants to show cause why the nun-
suit entered on the previous day should not be
set. aside and the verdict entered for the plain-
tiff for £25.

Mr. Torr said he could not contend that the
relation was not that of employer and employed,
but still that privilege did not apply, unless Mrs.
Scott suspected plaintiffs wife and mother-in-law
as well as the plaintiff himself, and uttered the
slander us charging them all The circum-
stances a:so showed malice on the part of Mrs.
Scott; for she said she knew the glass was stolen
in January ; and yet she only charged tel tny
when the plaintiff refused to stay longer in the
house in consequence of the approaching confine.
went of his wife. It was not put at the trial that
Mrs. Scott spoke an untruth, as he wished ts act
politely to the lady, who was present.
Lord Coleridge did not see that Mr. Torr had
put the matter before the learned Judge in such
a way that he could act. Mr. Tuir said he put
it in substance that what Mrs. Scott said was
not true ; but he suggested that the jury wood
hear her version of it ill the witness box. She
was not called. however, and the plaintiff was
nonsuited