Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 18.pdf/536

 THE LONDON COURTS They stand before the Master with a shelf upon which to rest books or papers while one side states its demand and the other its objection in the briefest and most direct manner. The Master's immediate oral de cision, accompanied by imposition of the costs and a few scratches of his pen on the back of the summons, indicate to the officer the opening of the door to admit the next case. By actual count, twenty-seven cases may thus be disposed of in one hour and thirtytwo minutes — an average of a little more than three minutes each. Of course there is a right of appeal, which, however, is rarely exercised. As the door opens two solicitors hurry in. There are no salutations nor introductory remarks but the business proceeds abruptly : Plaintiff's solicitor: "Master, we claim £50 judgment for rent." Master to defendant's solicitor: "Do you admit the amount?" Defendant's solicitor: "Yes, but we claim a set-off." Master: (Endorsing a few words on the summons.) "Judgment for rent £50 with stay of execution until counter-claim is tried." Defendant's solicitor: "If you please, Master." This expression is the universal vernacu lar with which the defeated party accepts the judgment of a master or judge in all courts. The expression is not an interroga tion but is equivalent to "as you please." Out they go and the next enter; here the defendant asks for delay, and gets seven days which is endorsed on the summons and requires a minute. Then comes an application under Order XIV for judgment for £1000. Defendant requests four days' delay. Master: "What is the defence?" Defendant's solicitor: "Master, I don't know — a recent agreement has been made between the parties which I have not yet seen."

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Master: "I'll give you the four days, but you must pay the costs of the adjournment; thirteen shillings and four pence." Defendant's solicitor: "If you please, Master." The next is a summons for judgment. As this is denied, the parties agree to try it be fore the Master on the following Thursday without a jury. Then follows a summons by defendant upon plaintiff for particulars of goods sold and delivered. Both parties are dealers in Japanese bulbs, and the sale was made subject to arrival in England safe and sound. They are apt to arrive rotten. Defendant demands particulars of plaintiff as to who were his customers, etc. Plaintiff objects to disclosing his business. The written summons containing the re quest for particulars is gone over rapidly by the Master, who strikes out with his pen such parts of the request as, in his opinion, ought not to have been demanded because they pry into the plaintiff's private affairs, and he signs the order, at the bottom, in an abbreviated form, imposing the costs of the summons upon the plaintiff. This means that the plaintiff is obliged to fur nish the defendant in so many days with all the particulars which the Master did not strike out, and must pay to the defendant the costs of the applications. A moment is consumed in giving judg ment in an uncontested case for £1,800 with costs of £8.16.0. Then comes a breach of promise case. Defendant asks for an order upon plaintiff for a statement of claim and discovery of correspondence which is ordered. Defend ant wants to try in London as most of the witnesses are there, but plaintiff wishes to try in Manchester where the parties live. The Master thinks it is easier to bring two people up from Manchester than a dozen down from London. The next is a "summons for directions:" Master: " Statement of claim in lodays?" Plaintiff's solicitor: "Yes, Master "