RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 180, 16 August 1872, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before H. W. Robinson, Esq., R.M.)

.John Laverty v. Michael Prendergast.—Claim, £37 Is. 2d. Goods supplied at Hyde. No appearance of defendant. Judgment for the amount claimed, with costs £1 25., and£L 13a expenses,

M'Cambridge v. de Lautour. —Claim, £2O, for professional services by the. late Dr. M*'Cambri<ige of fractured leg Defendant pleaded not indebted. He did not dispute the fact of attendance, but the result was so incomplete and unscientific as to be useless. Mr. Newmarch, who appeared for plaintiff, stated on oath that, upon the death of the late Dr. M'Cambridge, he had been appointed to collect the debts by the widow, who was his executor, due to the late doctor. Book.produced, showing entry on 2nd Feb., £2O, attending Mr. de Lautour for fractured leg. The cross-examination by de Lantour was intended to prove that, had the doctor had intended to prefer a claim, he would have done so during his lifetime, seeing that other accounts of a later date had been furnished by Mr Hunter, who kept his books, and paid. Mr. de Lautour, previous to giving evidence, asked to be allowed to make a statement. Ho said that the case was one of great delicacy, seeing that he should be compelled, in order to prove his case, to call friends of the deceased gentleman to give their testimony against him. If the case were to be withdrawn, he would be prepared to pay the cost so far rather than let so painful a case bo proceeded with. Mr. Newmarch said that his instructions were to sue for £2O, and he had no option but to do so. He alluded next to the difficulty in obtaining medical evidence, on account of the delicacy medical men invariably have to give evideoce against their brother practitioners. Messrs. Bremner and Inder, who had been present at the setting of the limb, give evidence as to every facility being at the doctor's command, and his remarks at that time as to the fracture being a simple one, and at subsequent times of the steady progress of Mr. do Lautour to recovery. Mr. Jacob London and Dr. Dick having been examined, the Court decided to adjourn the case sine die, for the production of further medical evidence.'