Thursday, before his Honour Judge Grain, Mrs. Wilhelmina Bickerton was plaintiff in a claim against D. H. S. Batten for $753, for board and lodging. The claim was proved by Mr. T. L. Bickerton.
Defendant, admitting the debt, added that he had paid regularly for two and a half years but unfortunately fell out of employment at the end of June and had since been unable to procure a job. At present he had a few private pupils, from whom he derived a precarious income of about $100 a month, of which he paid one third for the maintenance of his daughter in the French Convent. Some friends had kindly given him a room and breakfast free of charge, and he was otherwise living on a dollar a day—40 cents for tiffin and 60 for supper.
Asked by his Lordship where he had been previously employed, defendant said he was temporarily engaged at the Public School for Boys, and afterwards he went to a business house, also a temporary 2 Mr. Bickerton said the case would not have been brought into Court had they thought defendant was playing the game. He had been seen at various places of entertainment, and riding in motor-cars, and it was thought an order for the payment of a smal] amount per month might be made.
Defendant—I do not see how I can pay anything at present. A man cannot live on. less than a dollar a day in Shanghai.
His Lordship~Yes. But what about the motor-cars and places of entertainment?
Defendant—I have only been out with a friend. It is true that when I was in steady employment I lived up to my income.
His Lordship.—That is the worst of it. People live up to their
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.