“meatbam’z Qtlaa iatnauits - 1880”

Meacham’s & Co. sued a Robertson man at West River for not paying for a sketch in the Atlas, as it was not the size agreed upon and did not show his wife hanging clothes on the clothesline or cows in the field that were there when the sketch was made.

Meacham was then sued by Mr. Watson Fyfe. It is said that when rogues fall out honest men get their own and perhaps this was borne out by this case. Fyfe’s story is this: That early January of last year he was promised employment by Meacham as one of the Atlas delivery staff and for which he was to receive $36.00 per month and expenses. Before the Atlases were ready for delivery, and of course before the engagement began, he was called on by Meacham to do office work, to write biographical sketches to be published in the Atlas, and Editorials for all the newspapers in the Island praising the Atlas, all of which he claimed he had performed in a satisfactory manner... He informed the court that in addition to writing these articles, he was sent as a diplomat, by Meacham to interview the Editor of the “Presbyterian”, and armistice, with him, which he had done. He also stated that he, with other agents, was instructed by Meacham that, when delivering an Atlas, if the party wished a reduction in price, and offered to pay $8.00 or $10.00 in cash, the agents were to take the amount offered, taking care, in doing so, to give a receipt on account only, leaving it open for Meacham to sue for the balance. The Atlas being ready for delivery, he was engaged on the delivery staff, as above, but by mutual agreement, was afterwards transferred to the Charlottetown office, and, after having entered on his duties there, he was summarily dismissed without warning or cause, and for this wrong, he brought his action of damage for a wrongful dismissal.

...Meacham, on his part, positively denied having hired Fyfe, as alleged, and said he was only hired by the day, for which he had paid him. Judgement has not been delivered...on April 2, 1880...On April 9, The Examiner reported for the plaintiff Mr. Fyfe...In the case of Mr. Robertson - he won - as the Atlas had misrepresented him — in cutting his farm short by 25 Acres.

In the case of Mr. Fyfe, the evidence of Hon. Neil MacLeod, which was not before noticed, showed that his recommendations were excellent.

The above was re-printed in the Guardian on December 13, I947.

Meacham ’s Atlas depiction of John Robertson ’s home.

479