In the National Guardian in 1889, there is an article in December at a small debt Court against Daniel Campbell for a mirror that was owned by the brewers James Aitken & Co.
An action was heard in the Greenock small Debt Court on Thursday before Sheriff Begg – in which Messrs James Aitken & Co, brewers, Falkirk, sought delivery from Daniel Campbell, spirit merchant, Gourock, of a mirror which they alleged was their property. Pursuer’s representative, Mr Thomas Wallace, stated that it was the custom of the trade to give a show case or mirror to a merchant on condition that he would sell the goods of the firm. The mirror in question was granted on that condition to Mr Hill, the late tenant of the shop, and when Mr Campbell, who acquired the business, refused to give them any orders, pursuers considered they were perfectly justified in asking him to return the mirror. Mr John Anderson, spirit and beer traveller, gave corroborative evidence regarding the custom of the Trade Defender deposed that when he took over the business in August of last year he was led to understand that everything in the shop belonged to him. Mr Hill told him so; but at the same time he (defender) was quite willing to return the mirror provided that Messrs Aitken & Co. would paper the space like the rest of the wall. At the close of the evidence his Lordship gave decree with expenses. Mr Alfred McNaughton appeared for pursuer, and Mr Murray (of Messrs Cameron & Murray) for defender.