A detective at the small debt court

One client in Scotland argued that he shouldn't pay to consult a private detective

In 1889, Glasgow-based private detective John Fairweather travelled to the Dumbarton Small-Debt Court to sue Gordon Hardie for £1 1s.

This sum was what Fairweather charged for a two hour consultation (and for time lost) with Hardie. He had called on Fairweather on 5 June, stating that he was owed money by a man in Newcastle, and wanted this man to be tracked down. Hardie asked what the detective's fees would be, and Fairweather calculated that the job would cost him £5. Hardie engaged him, and the next day, Fairweather waited several hours for further instructions from his client. Nothing happened.

Gordon Hardie wanted a man in Newcastle traced by private eye John Fairweather

The next afternoon, Fairweather received a letter, in which Hardie told him he was no longer engaged. The detective duly took him to court, and both parties appeared there about a fortnight later. Hardie insisted that he had no formal engagement with Fairweather, but had simply called on him to make enquiries. He also argued that "no one had a right to charge for a consultation except lawyers".

Although several private detectives did offer free consultations, it would have been common knowledge that detectives could and did charge for their time and advice. The Sheriff of the court was one person who certainly knew this, and he found against Hardie, ordering him to pay - but not the £1 1s being asked for, but just for 10 shillings, with an additional 4s 4d of expenses.