Court Of Exchequer, Wedne...
This day the UHIXEF BARON sat to try a few common jury causes. SMITH V. HOOIERL Mr. JONES said that this was originally an action of trover to re. cover a box containing clothes which the defendanthad retained in his possesslon. The defendant, howevet, had rctu-ned the box, but refused to pay the plaintiff's costs. The plaintifP now came into Court to recover nominal damages in oyder to carry costs. The facts of the case were shortly these :-The plaintiff, who was a Lieute- nant in the 14th Light Dragoons, was billetted at a public-house called the Wheataheaf, at Frome, in Soinersetshire. The defendant, who was a tradesmaR in the town, was accustomed to visit the Wheatsheaf, and seeing the plaintif there, he asked him to come and lodge at his house. The plaintiff' tool, lodgings in the defendant's house, and after he had been there two daysi the defend. ant told him that he did not like a woman, with whom the plaintiff lived as his wife, to remain in his house, and that she should not enter it again. The plaintiff said, that the woman should not come back, but that he would continue in the lodgings during the period for which lie had hired them-namely, a month. The defendant, however, said he would have nothing to do with either the woman or the plaintiff, and desired him to quit his house. The plaintiff lcft the house, and sent his servant for his things, and with a week's rent. The defendant insisted that he was eiti,led to a month's rent, and detained a box belonging to the plaintiff, containing his clothes. The fact of the detention of the box wa proved, by a servant of the plaintiff. Air. HUTCHs,SOit, on the part of the defendant contended that a more impudent action had never been brought before a court of justice. The defendant, who was a rospctable tradesman at trome. let part of his house to the plaintiff On the first night the plaiutiff entered the lodgings, he slept alone; but on the foUlowing night he brought a wooman in to dleep with hih; the de. fendant, who did not wish to have such sceries presented to the eyes of his wife and daughters2 refused to allow the female to enter the house again. The plaintifn might, If he pleased, have occupied the lodginga alone. lie trusted that the jury would consider this a case in zhicl thev were called tipon to give the lowest damages possible. No witnesses were called for the defendant. The CHIEF BAnON observ&d, that the jury mutt return a ver- dict for the plaintiff, whose conduct, however, it could not be denied had been very improper. The Juxy returned a verdict for the plaintiff.-Damages one farthing. COIJRT OF EXCHEQUER, WVD'ESDAY, JULY 14.