A case was heard at Croydon on the 20th inst.
which reads more like a story out of a jest-book than a grave legal report. "Dr." Snow Beck had a friendly acquaintance and some business relations with Mr. Sterne, occasionally prescribed for the family, twice attended Mrs. Sterne as accoucheur, and dined with them very frequently. He was paid for his medical services, partly in money and partly in presents, and scorned quite content ; but, quarrelling with his friend, he suddenly produced a bill for three years' attendance amount- ing to 591/. It was proved that he had not mentioned this claim even in a previous reference to an arbitrator, that some of the items were for attendance at his patient's dinners, and that he charged 3/. 3s. for each attendance. The jury could not stand it, stopped plaintiff's counsel to say they had made up their minds, and brought in a verdict for defendant, the judge declaring that in his experience he had never heard a claim so outrageous. To have made the case quite perfect, Mr. Sterne should have consulted Joe Miller, and pleaded a set-off of ten guineas for every dinner supplied.
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