Birmingham Daily Gazette
Sat., March 20, 1926
“BARMAID AT 12s. A WEEK.
How She Became Rich.
AWARD OF £6,815 AGAINST ESTATE.
“A remarkable story was related in the King’s Bench Division yesterday during the hearing of a claim by a former barmaid against the executors of a well-known racing man, known as Isaac Moss Vernon, for the return of £9,717 said to have been lent to him. The Court found for the barmaid, and entered judgment for £6,815 and costs.
“The claim, which was heard by Mr. Justice Roche, was made by Miss Maggie Sayer, commonly known as Mrs. Maggie May Montague, against Captain Stuart Reginald Moss Vernon and Lewis Edwards, executors of the will of the late Mr. Isaac Moss, commonly known as Isaac Moss Vernon.
“Defendants denied that Mr. Moss Vernon had any money entrusted to him for the use of plaintiff and also pleaded the Statute of Limitations.
“RACEHORSE OWNER.
“Mr. Fortune, for the plaintiff, said Mr. Isaac Moss Vernon was a well-known owner of racehorses.
“He had also many business activities and among other things owned the Avenue Hotel, Shaftesbury – avenue, where Miss Sayer was at one time engaged as a barmaid.
“At the request of Mr. Moss Vernon she, in 1913, went to live with him.
“On 2 May, 1916, a son was born and he was fully acknowledged by Mr. Moss Vernon.
“Mr. Moss Vernon eventually died, leaving an estate of £100,000.
“He dabbled a great deal in purchasing property, and when he required money for that purpose he often went to Miss Sayer for it.
“In September, 1919, two sums of £300 and £4,400 were obtained.
“She had got the money partly from testator as gifts, and partly from winnings on the turf.
“SIGN OF GOOD FAITH.
“Miss Sayer, giving evidence, said she always believed Mr. Moss Vernon when he said he would pay her, because he put his hands to his head, being a Jew, and said he never broke his word.
“Cross-examined by Mr. Norman Birkett, K.C., Miss Sayer said she learned after Mr. Moss Vernon’s death that there was a Mrs. Clayton, and that Mr. Moss Vernon had lived with her; but she knew nothing of that while Mr. Moss Vernon was alive.
“ ‘Did he provide for Mrs. Clayton, in his will, to the extent of £800 a year?’ —
“ ‘I did not hear it like that, but I heard she was provided for.’
“Miss Sayer said when she first went to the Avenue Hotel, in 1910, as a barmaid she was paid 12s. a week.
“OWNER OF A TAXI.
“She made some money by owning a taxi. The property in Shaftesbury-avenue was left to Mrs. Clayton.
“In answer to the Judge, Mr. Norman Birkett said it was in 1918 Mrs. Clayton went to live with Mr. Moss Vernon, and the annuity she had been left was one of £800 a year for ten years.
“He was told, though it was rather hazardous to say so, that Mrs. Clayton looked about 40 years old.
“Mr. Justice Roche found that some of the sums claimed were barred by the Statute of Limitations, which the executors had properly pleaded. As to the other items, he found they were loans by Miss Sayer, who let Mr. Moss Vernon have the money from time to time as he required it. He found for Miss Sayer from 29 July, 1919.”
