A LAWYER’S QUARREL WITH HIS WIFE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1234, 28 December 1882, Page 2

A LAWYER’S QUARREL WITH HIS WIFE.

The Celebrated Action against James Smith, Barrister, Dunedin. QUESTION OF TRUST FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS. (Extract from the “Australasian.”) It seems that the last has not been heard of the now celebrated case of Smith v. Smith and another, in which our Chief Justice figured as one of the defendants. It will be remembered that when the case was called on a few months ago in the Supreme Court, a compromise was agreed to, on terms which Sir Archibald Michie dictated on behalf of the plaintiff’, Mrs James Smith. A certain sum of money, between £6,000 and £7,000, was to be paid to the plaintiff, and new trustees were to be appointed. Three days were allowed to complete this arrangement, and as nothing further was done in the matter, and Sir Archibald Michie returned to Melbourne, it was generally supposed that the last had been heard of this long pending suit. But the settlement seems to be as far off as ever. The new trustees very properly decline to accept the trust on behalf of Mrs James Smith until they are supplied with accounts by the defendants, and as Sir Francis Smith and Mr W. Gellibrand have up to the present de-

rlined to furnish thosQ accounts, there h i every probability that Sir Archibald Will have to spend another little holiday in Tas- ; mania, Mrs Smith has declined most posi- j lively to touch any of the money paid by . the defendants to her solicitors until these ; accounts are furnished, and in this she, of I course, has acted wisely, as it would only lead to further complications. It may be mentioned as a somewhat singular fact that | the Chief Justice, in refusing to furnish ac- j counts, is absolutely violating one of his own I rulings in a similar suit, it was hoped, seeing the social standing of all the parties, that this unfortunate family quarrel would not have been filtered through the Supreme Court, hut I am afraid that unless the defendants show a little more disposition to carry out the terms of the compromise, the public will be treated to all the details in connection with the dispute. Sir Archibald Michie appears determined to do justice to his client, and as he will be here in about ; three weeks, it may be takch for granted ; that lie mea*iB business.