“My husband, the late Ogilvy of Pitlyal, among other property which he left to me, was a house and a yard at the town-end of Kirriemuir, also a kiln and a malt-barn.
“The kiln and the barn were rented by a man they ca’d John Playfair, and John Playfair subset them to anither man they ca’d Willy Cruickshank, and Willy Cruickshank purchased a cargo of damaged lint, and ye widna hinder Willy to dry the lint upon the kiln, and the lint took low and kindled the cupples, and the slates flew aff, and a’ the flooring was brunt to the ground, and naething left standin’ but the bare wa’s.
“Now it wasna insured, and I want to ken wha’s to pay the damage, for John Playfair says he has naething ado wi’ it, and Willy Cruickshank says he has naething to do it wi’, and I am determined no to take it off their hand the way it is.”
“Has it been in any of the Courts?”
“Ou ay; it has been in the Shirra Court of Forfar; and Shirra Duff was a gude man, and he kent me, and would ha’ gien’t in my favour, but that clattering creature Jamie L’Amy cam’ in, and he gave it against me.”
“I have no doubt Mr L’Amy would give a very fair decision.”
“It wasna a fair decision when he gae it against me.”
“That is what many people think in your circumstances.”
“The minister of Blairgowrie is but a fule body, and advised me no to gae to the law.”
“I think he gave you a very sensible advice.”