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Attorney General. The result of the action was that A-Hok lost his case. Three of the jurymen held that Mr. Belilios was the principal, but the 4 decided that the Public Works Department was the principal, and that the Department had no authority to pledge Mr. Belilios's credit. With this verdict the Chief Justice, by whom the case was heard, appears to have concurred.
The verdict having decided that no contract had existed between A-Hok and Mr. Belilios, there were two alternatives left: either A-Hok must go unpaid, or he must be paid by the Government. Whether or not the Government might refund itself by successfully claiming the amount from Mr. Belilios, was another question.
By this time A-Hok's position was more unfortunate than ever, because having lost his case he was saddled with the costs of both sides, which costs were taxed at $9,351.70.
The next step was taken by A-Hok on February 9th, 1899, who through his solicitor (the Crown Solicitor had now ceased to act for A-Hok) threatened to sue the Government for the sum of $11,200 plus the taxed legal expenses of the suit. The Acting Attorney General was asked to write a minute on the subject, and he gave it as his opinion that the Government could only escape the liability for the sum of $11,200 by the possibility of another jury differing from the jury whose verdict was given in the case A-Hok V. Belilios.
He gave reasons, however, for believing that such a possibility was remote. It was also his opinion that the