Cambridge Chronicle 27 Jul 1832: Northfield successfully prosecuted Nightingale for trespass

NORTHFIELD v. NIGHTINGALE

An action of trespass, for distraining goods, before the rent was due. It appeared that the plaintiff and defendant both resided at Trumpington, the former hiring a cottage from the latter at a rental of £6. per ann., payable quarterly. It was proved that in June, 1831, the defendant was compelled to distrain for a year’s rent to the 14th, which three or four days after was paid. Another quarter’s rent would have become due on the 14th of September, but on the [missing word] the defendant perceived the plaintiff’s wife and father moving his goods from the cottage upon which defendant seized and detained them until the middle of the following day, for which inconvenience, &c damage was now sought it being contended that the seizure was made before the rent had become due. — For the defendant it was attempted to be shown that after the first seizure in June it was arranged that the future hiring should be a weekly one, and a witness stated that he was present when such an arrangement was proposed; it did not, however, appear that any weekly sum was stated, and the amount distrained for in September was a quarter’s rent, which if divided into weekly payments would give a fractional amount which could not be paid by any coin of the realm. — Verdict for plaintiff — damages 1s.