LAWYERS AT LAW.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 524, 1 July 1869, Page 2

LAWYERS AT LAW.

In the Supreme Court, Dunedin, there has been a strange case between the members of a well-known legal firm. The plaintiff was John Stamper, and the defendants William Wilfrid "Wilson and Miehiiel Kidston. Some time ago, the parties carried on business ir. Dunedin as solicitors and barristers under the style of Wilson, Kidston, and Stamper. Ultimately, Wilson, in accordance with previous arrangement between himself and co-partners, left here for Eugland. During his absence, the business, according to the evidence adduced, declined considerably; on his return, it was found that Kidston had gone to Victoria, and that Stamper was carrying on the business alone. Finally, the partnership was dissolved. The plaintiff (Stamper), so it was alleged, paid to the defendant (Wilson) the sum of LO7O on becoming a member of the firm, and he sued for the return of part of the money. The Judge, in summing up, referring to the office of the firm during the absence of the defendant, said that of all the descriptions of offices of which ho had ever heard, it would be difficult, he thought, to find one which appeared to have been kept in so disreputable a state. According to the evidence, it appeared that at times it was crowded b\ r troops of disreputable females, who were, as it appeared to be suggested, the absent partner's special clients. It was also mentioned that one of the clerks had been furnished with pocket money to assist him iu smoking in pul lie-houses, in order to get up and sustain a business connection. Then the plaiutiff had charged his partner with having committed perjury; and the accusation which he had deliberately made, he had afterwards withdrawn ; and he had now again come forward to show that the accusation was true, notwithstanding the stxtements he had made in the Resident Magistrate's Court. The Jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff. Damages one farthing.