The Lawyer's Bill Included Whisky, Sherry and Plasters
Sued for grave irregularities, John P. Dore answers with 157 items for advice—and an account full of whisky, medicine and groceries. He says Mrs. McDonough still owes him $139.70.
John P. Dore has given Mrs. Sarah McDonough, who has sued him, charging grave irregularities, a rousing bill of particulars. It contains several closely typewritten pages and covers the time from November 7, 1891, to October 1, 1894—157 items for advice, against which there are only fifty-one payments in small sums ranging from 30 cents upward. But the interesting parts are the entries the attorney kept in his account: bottle sherry; bottle whisky; bottle sarsaparilla; plasters; medicine; Hunyadi water; syrup of figs; whisky and lemons; whisky and groceries. The list runs from 1892 through 1894, with whisky appearing again and again. Dore also filed an answer reciting fifteen cases of affirmative defense, based on claims for legal services. The cross-complaint tends to show that Mrs. McDonough owes Dore a balance of $139.70, and he asks judgment for that amount.
“The interesting parts are the following, as the attorney has kept an account.”
A legal bill itemized down to bottles of whisky and packages of plasters is a reminder that professional disputes have always spilled private habits into the public record. The story also rhymes with modern fights over attorney fees and itemized billing—though few contemporary invoices would list sherry and sarsaparilla.
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