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CURIOUS ACTION FOR DAMAGES.

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CURIOUS ACTION FOR DAMAGES. At the Sunderland County Court last week a case was heard^ in which Robert Taylor claimed £ 50 as compensation for injuries he had received at the hands of a companion named John Atkinson. The men are both savsyers, working at Southwick. and residing in the adjoining viliage of Hylton. On the morning of Monday, the 29th of June last, they left their work about ten o'clock, and went into the public-house kept by Edward Brown. They had a good deal of beer, and sat conversing about feats of strength until Atkinson said he would bet a quart there was not a man in the house who could lift him. Taylor said he thought he could, but did not accept the bet, and while they were at the door between twelve and one, Atkinson said, "Can you lift me now?" and upon that Taylor undertook to carry him into the house. In his evidence the plaintiff said:— I put my back against him, in a stooping position, to lift him by the thighs, but he said, That's not the way, I'll show vou." He then shoved his arms up through under mine, and fetched them on the back-side of my head. Then he pressed my head down into my breast, and I felt something give way in my neck. I fell down at his feet, and said, You have done me." He said, Can you carry me now? I said, "No, you've done me." He ?aV!' .Come, get u:), it's only the rirink. and you'll soon be better. But I cou'a not stir, and George Young carried me into the house. Dr. Horan has since attended me. I am now very weak in the small of my back, and have very little use of my hands, being unable to lift anything. We were both under the influence of liquor. Margaret Barwick, plaintiff's sister, deposed to conversing with the defendant about the affair. He offered to show her how it was done, but she declined, thinking that for one of the family to be lame was qu;te enough. She asked him why he did not allow her brother to carry him in, to which he replied, "That's my catch." He afterwards said he had been done in a similar way himself once before by a man at the Three Horse Shoes Inn, and he was not clever for eight or nine weeks after. Dr. Horan deposed that the spinal marrow was injured, and said he found plaintiff completely paralysed, and without power to move or assist himself in bed. There was great tenderness about ttie region of the neck, and in his opinion it would be a long time before Taylor recovered the use of his limbs. He might recover somewhat, but would never be the man he was before the occurrence. He did not think he would be able to work as a sawyer again. There was no substantial defence to the action, and his Honour found for the plaintiff, with £ 25 damages and costs. He remarked that though the men had agreed to a trial of strength in lming, defendant had used unfair means. He would have given judgment for the whole sum of £50, but the defendant being only a working man, and having a family to maintain, would not be able to pay more than £ 25. + (

[No title]

EXTRAORDINARY FRAUD.