Shanghai, 17th May. Before G, Jastesox, Esq., Assistant Judge. Warten v. Jarpixe, Matiesox & Ca.
This was a ease in which Mrs, Waller sued Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Ca., Agenta for the C.P.R. line of steamers, for $21.36, the cost ut legal advice and telegram to Kobe relative to the recovery of some baggage belonging to her, which was overcarried by the Kmpress of China, he plainti neted her case in person, and Mr. A, K. Craddock represented Mesers, Jardine, Matheson & Ca.
Mrs, Waller, having been sworn, stated that on the 12th April, she booked a through passage from Hongkong to San Francisco, by the Empress of China, Her luggage consisted of three boxes fully marked, Mrs. Waller, Shanghai." One box was placed in her state-room and the others were placed in the baggage room, When she recovered the trunk, the subject of the present action, the ecrewa had been removed from ti and she had lost gon =e let had many indignities heaped on her by the company.
His Lordship Never mind the indigo ties; you are not claiming for indignities.
Plaintiff, continuing, said shi in Shanghn 15th" April. arrangementa with the Agents to stop. She left the steamer at about 10.30 a.m. at Woosung and came up in the launch. When she enquired about her two boxes in the baggage-room she was told had been sent on Shanghai the ight before, When she sent fr her luggage to Messrs, Jurdine's hong on the Saturday (15th) it was closed. On the following Monday she sent a chit claiming her trunks, but Mr. Craddock sent it back. She sent again and went herself. She saw Mr. Craddock, who refused to apeak, to her, After that she went and saw lawyer, and telegraphed to some friends at Kobe. It was through her telegram that she recovered the trunk, one only having been sent to Shanghai, the other being carried on to Kobe. She was not the first person who had lost baggage on the Empress of China: it was getting to be a very common occurrence.
His Lordship—Did you ask Messrs. Jardine to telesraph.to Kobe?
Plaintifi—I asked Mr. Craddock to take some means to recover my baggage.
Hia Lordship—Did the trank come back Plaintift—It came back on the French mai His Lordahip—Was your name printed Plaintiff—I followed the custom of the United States, where luggage is never lost, and it is carried sometimes " distance of 3,000 or 4,000 miles, I tied a label on to it, but it' was evidently cut off: I paid Mr. Drummond Tls. 10 for legal advice, und I paid for a telegram to Kobe.
Mr, Craddock, having been sworn, suid that Mrs. Waller's statement was in the main correct, except that the office was; peni on the Saturday afternoon. He was in the office and sent off telegrams between half-past-one and a-quarter-to-three and nobody came, On the Monday a Chinaman came along and asked for two boxes. 'There was then only one in the office and that was without any name or distinguish-Witness accordingly roun Another chit came later, and Mee, Waller called soon after. She' said the trunk belonged to her. She was very excited, and insisted upon the delivery of two tranks. She then went to see Mr, Drummond to get: his o ton came round to see witness and garo a description of the mi hereupon Messrs. Jurdiv Witness produced a copy of this as well as the reply of their repr in Kobe stating that the trunk was coming back in the Natal.
His Lordship (to the Plaintiff).—It appesrstome, on your own showing, you are laine for the whole thing, by reason, of the boxes having been imperfectly addressed, If you had only taken " little trouble—a He (Mr. Craduck) could not luck me in the face and tell me he had Drummond, arid ie was Air, Drummond's olegraphed. I was obliged to go to Mr.
lotter that caused Mesers, Jardine, Matheson to telegraph. Mr. Craddock told me it wns my look-out and' that he knew nothing about the matter. That was why, I, woman standing alone, was compelled to go and take proceedings, (To Mr. Craddock) You ought to be ashamed to stand in the witness-box, and take an oath and tell a deliberate lie against a woman, I am woman of truth.
His Lordship then left the bench, and the cage ended.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.