His Lordship and the Lady Mr, Justice Darling recently heard an action brought by Messrs. Jay Richard Attenborough & Ca., Ld., pawnbrokers, against Messrs.
Halford & Sons, Ld., jewellers, Pall Mall, for the return of a pearl necklace valued at £325. The necklace was bought at Messrs. Halfords for that sum by a woman who did not pay for it at the time, and who pledged it with the plaintiffs. The Court subsequently ordered the restitution of the necklace to Messrs, Halfords, and the plaintiffs handed it over under protest, demanding its return. Mr. Matthews, x.c., for the plaintiffs, called evidence to prove the pledge, and argued that his clients gave value in good faith.
Mr. Hogg, K.c., for the defendants, said that the woman, who gave the name of Esme Beaumont, was wearing the necklace when she came into Atten-borough's shop. She gave her address as Riverside, Staines, and asked for an advance of £200. The sum actually lent was £135, She spoke like a lady and was dressed like one.
Mr, Justice Darling asked when {ner it was common for ladies to come into the shop and take off necklaces in order to obtain loans.
"Yes, it is quite common," said the witney Do they never tell you how it is that they want money?—No, we treat it as an ordinary business transaction.
Don't you ever ask them?—Yes, on occasion.
Tae Criterion or Dress.
Then how do ladies dress?) What ig your criterion? How do you decide by the dress whether a person is a lady or not?
Witness said the lady was dressed very quietly.
His Lordship~Ah! (Laughter.)
Mr. Matthews—What he said, my lord, was that she was dressed and spoke like a lady.
His Lordship (to the witness)—Then if she had not been quietly dressed, what conclusion would you have drawn?
Witness—If the lady had a smart) and flashy appearance, I should certainly have questioned her. bridge by any chance, and Bow it Did you ask her if she played was she wanted the money?—No.
Witness said he could not state exactly when it was they asked questions and when they did not. They did not ask such people if they played cards, His Lordship—But you assume. that these people, who want to Pawn their necklaces, have been playing cards?—No.
Then do you think that they have been taxed too much by the Government?—(Laughter.)—-We think they want a temporary loan.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.