A BREAD-BILL MAKER IN COURT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 510, 16 December 1881, Page 2

A BREAD-BILL MAKER IN COURT.

The N. Z. Herald gives an account of an amusing assault case which was heard in the Auckland Police Court ■the other day. It appeared from the story told by the defendant in the wit-ness-box that the plaintiff, who is a doptor, curing special complaints, but wliose knowledge of English is rather limited, got the defendant to copy out some testimonials which he had received from, various patients. The plaintiff was not satisfied that they : •were “ gushing” enough, and he wrote out a splendid specimen testimonial, stating that he had been cured of rheumatism, eta, and appended his name to it, handing it over to the doctor. He explained to the doctor that all he had to dp was to change the names of the diseases and the localities, and the Stock testimonial would do him for some time. As it is considered the correct thing to append some alphabetical letters after the names of gentlemen in the medical profession, the draughtsmen affixed the cabalistic letters M.B.P. after the doctor’s name in the testimonial. He explained that he meant by these “ Maker of Bread Pills.” The doctor was so pleased with the “ work of art ” that he published the testimonial, as it stood, with the signature of the writer ! The plaintiff, who is the picture of health and strength, was so enraged at being posted in the daily journals as a sufferer from rheumatism, and alleged to have been cured by Dr Kohl, M.8.P., that he proceeded to the doctor’s residence and knocked in his new bell-topper (the head was in it), as “ a mark of contempt for him.” Hence the action of the doctor for assault. His Worship ruled that the defendant having tacitly allowed the plaintiff to become possessed of the testimonial, it became plaintiff’s property, but that the defendant had no right to publish it without plaintiff’s consent. Plaintiff also had his remedy other than by assault. He must therefore fine him 40s and costs.