LIVERPOOL 85 



horses, for riding several times, and for other costs and 

 expenses incidental to his employment. There was a 

 kind of technical defence, and the defendants, as exe- 

 cutors, had declined, except under the sanction of the 

 law, to pay what they considered outrageous charges 



for such a sport as racing. A Mr. (afterwards a 



judge) held a brief for the defence. He was at that 

 time a rising junior, well known on the turf, and it was 

 a matter of regret to Tom and his lawyer that he had 

 been snapped up by the other side before they offered 

 him a retainer. Tom, therefore, had to have his bill 

 sifted by a barrister who knew the lines, and, as may 

 be expected, a very amusing and entertaining exchange 

 of wit and repartee was witnessed in the cross-examina- 

 tion of this extraordinary horseman, whose ability in 

 fence or wordy warfare, and general aptness in the 

 witness-box, rendered him quite equal to his bewigged 

 antagonist. The judge who tried the case was, I think, 

 Baron Martin, who was, of course, quite familiar with turf 

 matters — he had a share in more than one horse — but to 

 the jury all the talk about training, entering, scratching, 

 riding on the flat and over a country, was plainly unin- 

 telligible. The bill was a long one, but such was the 

 fairness of the charges, and the plausibility of Tom 



in his explanations and definitions, that Mr. made 



no headway. He put his finger down upon one item — • 



" Come," he said, " Mr. Olliver, you have already informed the 

 court that ^^ for a losing steeplechase mount, and ^10 for a win 

 of a similar description, was the regulation price. How is it, then, 

 that you have charged ;^5o for winning this particular race? Did 

 you have any express contract before you rode ? " 



Olliver. " No, I had no previous agreement." 



Mr. "Then how do you pretend to support such an out- 

 rageous charge ? " 



Oi liver. " Well, now, before I answer that question, please let me 

 read the back of your brief. I want to see how much they give you 

 to ride this match against me." 



