257
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Continuation.
Victor Hobart Deacon was admitted in England on May 8, 1874, and in Hongkong on July 12, 1880. Was formerly with the well-known London solicitors, Messrs. Farrer & Co., of 66 Lincoln's Inn Fields. He is accurately summed up by Mr. Fraser-Smith as a "thorough gentleman." He was a very able conveyancer. Convivial by nature, he was the best of hosts and always carried his wine well. He was very fond of a game of "poker" on Saturday evenings. He retired from Hongkong in 1906 and died in 1920.
Charles David Wilkinson was admitted in England on December 6, 1882, and in Hongkong on September 28, 1886.
He was well-described by Mr. Fraser-Smith as "the Rupert of debate." His "Cavalry Charges" in the Lists of the Law were noted for their keenness of onset, but he became more mellow as the proceedings progressed! He possessed a particularly able and active brain and could conduct a legal correspondence with a subtlety which it was extremely difficult to match.
His ability in this relation was thoroughly appreciated by a former Chief Justice (Sir William Goodman) who in dealing with one of his applications in Chamber honoured him by indicating that it was "too complicated." He once, by way of a practical joke, caused an "imitation writ of summons" to be served on a military friend of his, but the latter, scenting a rat, dispatched "a guard of honour" to Mr. Wilkinson's office, where a series of military evolutions, including the "marking of time" in heavy boots on the office floor, to the imminent danger of the latter's collapse, led to a cry of "peccavi" on the part of "Rupert."
Twenty-five to thirty years ago, Admiralty actions in the Supreme Court arising out of collisions between Steamships and Junks were fairly frequent, but nowadays they appear to be more or less extinct. In the days when this was not the case, Mr. Wilkinson's firm was usually concerned on behalf of the Plaintiff Junk owners - Mr. Shapp, K.C., being generally instructed as Counsel for the defendant Steamship.
In the cases, Mr. Shapp (who had a keen sense of humour and loved to "plague" his opponents) would - after the case was over - occasionally chaff Mr. Wilkinson, somewhat on these lines: "Wilkie, I seem to have seen those witnesses of yours in previous collision cases. They always give evidence to the same effect, showing that the junk's masthead light was burning brightly, and a good look-out being kept when suddenly out of the blackness of the night, without any warning, the ship emerged and a collision became inevitable. Are they part of your office staff?" whereat "Wilkie" would smile deprecatingly as he indignantly denied the soft impeachment!
Creasy Ewens was admitted in England on April 3, 1876, and in Hongkong on April 18, 1882. He came out to Hongkong as Clerk to the then new Chief Justice Mr. (afterwards Sir George Phillippo), in which post, upon his retirement therefrom shortly afterwards, he was succeeded by Mr. Alfred Gascoyne Wise, subsequently Puisné Judge, from which the latter retired in 1908. Mr. Ewens was, like Mr. Wilkinson, possessed of an able and active brain, but was impatient of detail. His vision was so quick that he desired to communicate his thoughts to paper at the same rate of speed, and consequently would at times seize upon a piece of blotting paper, if none other were handy, to effectuate his purpose! He was intensely fond of reading, and
257
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Continuation.
Victor Hobart Deacon was admitted in England on May 8, 1874, and in Hongkong on July 12, 1880. Was formerly with the well-known, London solicitors, Messrs. Farrer & Co., of 66 Lincoln's Inn Fields. He is accurately summed up by Mr. Fraser-Smith as a " thorough gentleman " He was a very able conveyancer. Convivial by nature, he was the best of hosts and always carried his wine well. He was very fond of a game of "poker" on Saturday evenings. He retired from Hongkong in 1906 and died in 1920.
Charles David Wilkinson was admitted in ängland on December 6, 1882, and in Hongkong on September 28, 1886.
He was well-described by Mr. Fraser-Smith as "the Rupert by lebate " His Cakalry Charges" in the Lists of the Law were nosed for for their keenness of onset, but he became more mellow as the the proceedings progressed! He possessed a particularly able and active brain and could conduct a legal, correspondence with a subtlety which it was extremely difficult to match.
His ability in this relation was thoroughly appreciated by a former Chief Justice ( Sir William Goodman ) who in dea- ling with one of his applications in Chamber honoured him by indicating that it was " too complicated. " He once, by way of a practical joke, caused an "imitation writ of summons to be" served " on a military friend of his, but the latter, scent- ing a rodent dispatched " a guard of honour to ir. Wilkinson's office, where a series of military evolutions including the " mar- king of time" in heavy boots on the office flbor, to the immi- nent danger of the latter's collapse let to a cry of peccavi on the part of "Rupert "
Twenty-five to thirty years ago, Admiralty actions in the Supreme Court arising out of collisions between Steamships and Junks were fairly frequent, but nowadays they appear to be more or less extinct. In the days when this was not the case, Mr. Wilkinson's firm was usually concerned on behalf of the Plaintiff Junk owners - Mr. Shapp, K.G., being generally instrue- ted as Counsel, for the defendant Steamship.-
In the cases, Mr. Shapp (who had a keen sense of humour and loved to " plague * his opponents " would - after the case was over occasionally chaff Mr. Wilkinson, somewhat on (these lines. "Wilkie, I seem to have seen " those witnesses
of yours in previous collision cases. They always give
" evidence to the same effect, showing" that the junk's masthead light was " burning brightly, and a good look-out being keptķ when suddenly out of the " blackness of the night,
without any "warning the ship emerged and a " collision became inevitable. Are they " part of your office staff?! " whereat" Wilkie 'would smile deprecatingly as he indignantly 1 denied the soft im- peachment!
Creasy Ewens was admitted in England on April 3, 1876 and in Hongkong on April 18, 1882. He came out to Hongkong as
Hongkong. Clerk, to the then new Chief Justice Mr. ( afterwards Šir George Phillippo ( in which post, upon his retirement therefrom shortly afterwards, he was succeeded by Mr. Alfred Gascoynen Wise subsequently Puisné Judge, from which the latter retired in 1908). Mr. Ewens was like Mr. Wilkinson, possessed of an able and active braink but was impatient of detail. His vision was so quick that he desired to communicate his thoughts to paper at the same rate of speed, and consequently would at times, seize upon a piece of blottingpaper, if none other were handy, to effectuate his purpose! He was intensely fond of reading, and
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