OLD LAW SUIT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9631, 11 June 1919, Page 7

OLD LAW SUIT.

LONDON, March 28

The case of Lintott v. Foqtmer came before Mr Justice Sargent in the Chancory Division on Tiiesday. William Lintott, the testator in the cause, died in 1816, and could not have been for many years in his grave when some litigant, who has since followed him, filed his bill of complaint in the High Court of Chancery. Afterwards—longo intervailo no doubt—in 183 i counsel ware engaged in ■ the case who came later to great repute. One of these was named Bethell, who became Lord Westbury, Lord Chancellor. The other was Mr Turner, afterwards a Lord Justico. In 1834 the case was heard by Sir Charles Christopher Pepys, then Master of the Rolls, afterwards Lord Cottenham, Lord Chancellor. What persons were interested in the estate, how it came about that any of it still remains, and what became of the parties need not be inquired into. To adapt Gray's lines:—

No further seek their merits to disclose, Or draw their i'railtios from their dread abode. The Master of the Rolls, whatever he did besides, adjourned the further consideration of the cause, and that further consideration came on on Tuesday for bearing before a Judge who had not'been born when Sir Charles Pepys adjourned the matter for his ] judicial treatment. Of the counsel appearing on Tuesday, Mr Thomas Tindal Methold disclaimed the honour of having had anything to do with the bill of complaint, and' showed himself to be abreast of modern times when he asked his Lordship to invest the fund in Court in 1 War Stock. j Mr Rand and Mr Harman are still I younger members of the Chancery J3ar, and were not pressed by the Court to explain any undue celerity m the conduct of the proceedings; and :vlr Justice Sargent settled minutes of judgment in due and proper form, including the necessary inquiries as to the persons entitled to the estate.