Re-examined by Mr. Rodger, witness said that during his 13 years' connexion with the paper he had only once been asked to write a lead~ ing article, and on that occasion the Director who asked for it sent him a letter of appreciation. His policy had been to.avoid international frietion such as might be caused by strong leading articles, and to make the paper a Shanghai paper. On tone occasion he wrote a leader defending Judge Lobingier, who he considered had been viciously and unjustly attacked, and directly it appeared he got a letter from Mr. Fessenden (a member of the Board), telling him to stop it, His predeces. sor adopted a strong editorial. policy during the war, and the result was, that he had to leave, the paper lost circulation, prestige, and advertise ing, and became practically a wreck, Then witness started in and swang round to the neutral policy of America.
At this point, the Judge comment the number of irrelevancies introduced into the ease, and observed thut there was nothing in the contract which stipulated that plaintiff had to write editorials, He was manager and publisher, and could engage writers, Canteen and Del Monte, answer to further questions, witness said that the office canteen was started in 1911, and the Direct= ors knew full well about it. It was not unusual for the advertising manager to invite a custome: to have a drink, and the chances were then that a man who canio in with fu order for 800 Inches, would go away with a contract for 1,000 in his pocket.
Mr. Rodger continued examination of plaintiff' when the proceedings were resumed in the afternoon, and was told that the late Mr. Ezra, and Mr. A. J. Israel who signed his agreement, know of the existence of the canteen. No more drinking had been going on lately than at that time. Questioned with regard to the Del Monte, plaintiff said he considered it to be a respectable place, Mr. Rodger—I you ever seen prominent Shanghai "people there with their wives?—Many.
Name a few of them...
His Honour—It docs not seem to me to be necessary that you should name them, Mr. Rodger—Have yo over seen any of the Directors of the "China Press" there?—Yes, Mr. Fessenden, and Mr. Dollar and'his wife.
And the Del Monte advertises in the "China Pross"?—Yes, Counsel was proceeding to put in a copy of the "China Press" containing a Del Monte advertisement when his Honour demurred, Mx. Rodger—I am only putting it in beeatise they say the Del Monte is not respectable.
His Honour—Plaintiff has " said that it is.
'Mr. Pessenden—Did 1 ever have a drink' with you in your office while I was a Director of the paper?—Not while you were a Director, but at other times. T cannot quite recall when.
Mr. Fessenden—I have never been in your office in my life. Did you ver shake dice with Mr. Bara?—
With Mr. Harold Dollar?—No, But on several occasions' he had a drink with me, and I told him, about the bar. All the Directors knew about Mr, Fessenden—I_ never knew. Have you ever seen the editor of any other first class paper attending these cafes night after night?—Not that I recall, Were any of the Directors present on occasions when you shook dice with the editorial staff?—I think not,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.