ACTRESS' COAT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2084, 20 May 1907, Page 1

ACTRESS' COAT.

£IOSO DAMAGES. FOR A LOST SABLE.

Miss Kitty Gordon; tlie actress, and her husband, the Hon. H. Horsley Beresford, were awarded lOOOgns damages recently in the King s Bench Division against the Accident Insurance Company for the loss or a, valuable sable coat. Mrs. Beresford. with, her- husband, had visited America, where she was engaged to play hi “Veronique, Mr Beresford insured his wife’s, clothing, jewellery, ptc., for OTOOgns, mcludinp- the fur coat for 100C/gnrf. The plaintiff’s case was that they packed the coat to an hotel in Isew York, and that when the trunk arrived ill England the coat hod disappeared, the lock having been fenced.. To this the defendants replied that the coat was not of the value stated, tliattit was insured for transit only, but that there was no proof that it was packed or that it was stolen or lost in transit. Tile chief witness for the defence was Miss Stella Falk, a dresser to Mrs. Beresford while in America, who had been brought over from. .America to give evidence as to the packing. She packed everything, but positively denied having packed the sable coat in question;

She liadtp undergo a searching cross-oxamination by Mr. Gill, K.C., and some laughtor was raised by her telling Mr. Evans, K.C., defendant’s counsol, that during her service with the Beresfords they “were tho best of friends.” .In evidence, Mrs. Beresford said eight dresses, including evening frocks, wero jiacked underneath her fur coats.

How many yards go to a dross of yours, 5, 10, or 15 ft —I could not tell if it was 45 yards.—Or half a mile? No.

For her part in “V.eironSque” 'she was paid £SO a week".—Mr. Gill : You are now playing in “Nelly Neil,” with Miss Edna May? Yes. Tho Judge: Confine yourself to tho box, Mr. Gill.

Mr. Justice without calling upon Mr. Gill, said he was proparod to givo judgment. Ho* believed tho evidence of Captain and Mrs. Beresford, but ho did not think that Miss Falk had come there with any other object but to speak tho truth. Tho coat was packed in the trunk and in transit it was lost. The insurance covered tho time the property was in America and transit. He therefore gave judgment for the plaintiffs for the amount claimed, with costs. A stav of execution was granted.