From the Western Post 9 March 1861: Small Debts Court, continued: Monti SHEPHERD v John KNOX. Mr CLARKE (for TEMPLETON) appeared for SHEPHERD. This was an action for £10 to compensate plaintiff for damage he had sustained through certain slanderous expressions uttered by KNOX which had prevented him obtaining employing as a harness maker. James CHRISTIAN was called to prove the utterance of the words complained of, which were that Mr KNOX had told him that Monti had said that he (CHRISTIAN) was not able to pay his men their wages on Saturday night. Supposing they were true (which he denied), he had long before made up his mind not to give plaintiff any more work. Mr CLARKE declined going further into the case, and applied for a nonsuit, which, after some little argument, was granted. C PAIN and Wife v. Evan JAMES. CLARKE (for TEMPLETON) for plaintiff. Mr JAMES for defendant. This was action for £10 damage sustained through defendant uttering certain improper words against Mrs PAIN. Mrs PAIN deposed that on the 5th December she was at ROWELL and KELLETT's store when JAMES asked her why she had been scandalizing his wife, which led to some words between them; she denied having spiken against Mrs JAMES upon which defendant called her a b___ liar. Mr JAMES said he had spoken to Mrs PAIN about the disgraceful way she had been speaking of his wife; she immediately said it was all a ____ lie, and followed him to the desk to prolong the dispute. He admitted calling her a liar, but denied using the adjective. John STALL was present during the little quarrel. Mrs PAIN let her tongue run rather freely, he did not hear JAMES use a bad word. Verdict for plaintiff, 10s and costs. HANNERLEY v W BURROWS, for £5 for hire of vehicle for conveyance of a wedding party from Market Square to the church. Mr SIMPSON, who appeared for BURROWS, paid £2 into Court, it being the amount agreed to with Mrs HANNERLEY. Tim HANNERLEY said he was not in the habit of taking parties to church in his carriage for a less sum than £5, and that he never allowed his wife to make a bargain when he was at home. Mrs HANNERLEY next appeared in the box, fully satisfied with the respectability and importance of her vehicle, it being, in her estimation, the carriage, and that the mere idea of any one presuming to obtain its use for £2 was an indignity not quietly to be borne. She swore it was not likely she would let it go out for such a sum, especially when Tim had to get up at two o'clock in the morning to clean it for the wedding. __ COX of the diggings had given her £5 when he got married, she therefore appealed to his "reverence" whether every one else out not to pay the s! ame. J WILKINS proved that BURROWS had inquired of him where he could get a carriage for his wedding, Mrs HANNERLEY happening to be in sight he recommended her, and called her over, when she said within his hearing that they could have it in the morning for £2, and is she was in no hurry for the money it could remain upaid for three months. The bargain was at once concluded. Mrs Tim HANNERLEY then inquired whether he was going to "shout". This proved fatal to the five pounds. Verdict for defendant. SINDEN v MILLER - £5 money lent. Settled. TEMPLETON v SUMMERHEYS - £2 15s. Settled. H TEBBUTT v J TRIVES - £2 16s commission on sale. Struck out. Mick CONNELLY summoned his brother Pat CONNOLLY for £1 6s 9d for butter and milk supplied. Mick denied the account and said the bill was sent in because of the late court work. When all were on good terms his little "tots" used to go and see the woman milk the cows, when she would give them a drink; that she sometimes gave him a drop after he had gone dangling after her cows, and one day he had a morsel of butter for churning for her. Things were all right then, but now there were this way and that way and the "tother". He did not know much about law else he might have put in a set off for all the hard work he had done for her. Mary CONNELLY proved the supplying of the milk. She could not write, but she could keep an account. She did not charge for what the "tots" had sipped. Verdict for the amount. ***END*** Annette Piper Please note: Every effort has been to transcribe the above information correctly, however errors may have inadvertently been made. Spelling of surnames/places as appears in original.