Sikh Pleasantries in Court: An Advocate's Bill of Costs In H.M. Supreme Court, on Monday before Sir Skinner Turner, Mr. RE. Faithfull sued Bishen Singh, the money-lender, for $227.50, fees due for professional services rendered.
Upon looking at plaintiff's bill of costs, his Lordship observed, "This bill can never conceivably be allowed. The action is for $146, and your fees come to about $200."
"Mr, Faithfull—According to the rules, a bill between a practitioner and his client is taxable on Scala 2, and I have made out this bill according to Scale 1.
Defendant contended that he had paid $50 in cash to plaintiff and that plaintiff had drawn $50 from the Mixed Court.
Mr. Faithfull—I have not drawn a farthing except that $50 from the Mixed Court. I appeared for defendant in the Supreme Court in a case against a man named Williams, which case lasted over three days, and for weeks and weeks in the Mixed Court, in the case Of a Chinese whose name 1 do not remember. I appeared there for five days and Charaed $10 a day. The case was adjourned each time, the Court aving no time to dea) with it.
Defendant insisted that he had paid $50 in cash and this was denied.
Mr. Faithfull called his inter-prefer, Santa Handog in support of his statement that no cash had been paid, and defendant informed the court that every Indian knew that Hondo was "one big liar." He had been in prison.
Witness admitted that he had served six months in connexion with a charge of fraud.
Defendant—He will tell a lio for 20 cents, His Lordship—Is your price for a lie 20 cents?
Witness—No, my Lord.
price for a lie" seems to be.the His Lordship—"What is your next question. all, never tell a lie at Defendant, in the witness box, after repeating that he paid $50 in cash to Mr. Faithfull, stated that upon finding that plaintiff had drawn $50 from the Mixed Court, money deposited in connexion with a judgment, he went to Mr. Faithfull to ask for it and was pushed out of the office.
His Lordship, having, inquired into the dates of the transactions, said he would make inquiry with regard to the money drawn from tha Mixed Court, and with this reservation. gave judgment for the amount claimed, subject to plaintiff's bill being gone through by the taxing master.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.