PETERSFIELD
COUNTY COURT, Saturday, Jan. 18th.—Before C. J. Gale, Esq., the Judge.—There were a good many plaints entered, several of which had been settled out of Court, and of the rest very few presented any features of public interest.
STAMP YOUR AGREEMENTS.—William Berry v. James Tribe.—This was a suit for £18 for rent. Mr. Field (Gosport) appeared for defendant, who had rented certain premises in the Stroud of complainant’s brother (Mr. John Berry), at a yearly rent of £12. This had continued for about 19 years. About three years ago the premises passed by conveyance into the hands of plaintiff, but he had never applied to defendant for the rent, and the latter alleged had never given him notice of the change of ownership. This, however, plaintiff denied. At all events defendant had continued to pay the rent to John Berry, and denied his liability to any claim from the plaintiff. Mr. Field called for the production of the original agreement between John Berry and defendant, which plaintiff at first said he had left at home, but which he afterwards found in his pocket, and on its production it was found to be without a stamp and therefore legally valueless; but it contained a covenant whereby the landlord agreed to take the fixtures at a valuation on the expiry of the tenancy. This valuation had been made and amounted to £6 18s. Mr. Field, on the part of defendant, expressed his willingness to pay the difference if plaintiff would allow for the fixtures, and his Honor having intimated that the only alternative would be a nonsuit owing to the agreement being unstamped, plaintiff consented to this, and an order was made for the payment of £11 2s., being the amount claimed, less the fixtures. His Honor also directed that plaintiff should pay defendant his attorney’s fee.