Sir Harold Smith, K. C., in further cross-examination of Mr. Fennell, said that in the pass book which the bank provided were the words: Officers of the bank ate bound to secrecy as regards the transactions of its customers." Did Mr, Fennell regard that as binding?
Mr. Fennell: I do not regard it as binding in the ordinary course of business. But if I was at a party and I started talking about a customer's business think I should be wrong.
Sir Harold: When the bank volunteers the information that its officers are bound to secrecy, you say it only restricts you in social gossip? Is that the construction you place upon it?—Yes.
Then anybody who banks at your bank now does so with full warning that you are only bound to refrain from social gossip about your customers?—Yes.
Otherwise you have a free hand, or, rather, a free tongue?—Yes, in the ordinary course of business.
Mr. Fennell added that when Mr. Fournier came to him and complained that. he had accused him to his employers of betting, he was only too willing to put the matter right by a letter if he had done Mr. Fournier any harm.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.