The Asséssor—It is time this casa should be finished.
Mr. Hartigan—The witness is preparing hig claim up to April last. 3 Dr. Fischer—Yes, he is writing now, after the time the Court has given him in which to provide this statement of accounts. Since that time, of course, his salary has acerned. He does not know himself how much he wants.
Mr. Hartigan—After a man has served the Fleet for 13 years he ongats to be allowed some considera-ion.
Dr. Fischer—His service only amounts to seven years.
During the past four months, witness proceeded, he had been tnying to get this money. Others of the crew had done the same. There was no captain on the ship and no" one at the office in Shanghai.
Dr. Fischer said that Mr. Hartigan told the crew not: to settle the matter out of court. A question by plaintiffs' counsel as to how many men on the Erivan had not reoaived what they claimed had nothing to do with the claim now made by Mr. Hartigan's six clients.
Mr. Hartigan—May I ask this witness to instruct the other men on the Erivan, when the weather permits. to prove their claims?
Dr. Fischer—In a civil case it is not the duty of the Court to give such instructions.
Mr. Hartigan—I merely did not wish the Court to think me derelict in_my duties.
Dr. Fischer—You certainly were.
A movement by counsel to obtain pay books produced by Mr, Hartigan was opposed by that lawyer. "You are playing," he said to Dr. Fischer, who, becoming possessed of the books, told the plaintiffs' counsel that he should have the courtesy to mark them in English.
cross-examination witness agreed that wages had been reduced because the Fleet got into a bad way. He had received $35, $10 and $5 in Shanghai. These amounts had been deducted from the claim for gold roubles.
Counsel—I put it to you that, out of the amount you claim, 414 roubles has been advanced to you in Shanghai and Vladivostok.
Answering further questions, the witness said he would not be willing to be sent back to Vladivostok, where his family were.
Dr. Fischer—So you do not want to seo the wife that you have left for two years, according to the statement of your own counsel Witness—I want the money, and then I can go where I like.
The hearing was adjourned.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.