Footfalls printed in the floor sprayed with sawdust. Horses snorted and manoeuvred outside, near the entrance to the Adelaide Local Court House, corner of Franklin and King William Street. The court was a single-storey building of limestone and brick, arched windows and stately wooden doors of carved panelling [Fig. 1]. The magistrates clerk set up the easel and with extravagant purpose placed a painting on the mahogany support. The plaintiff, James Shaw, part-time painter and clerk at the Adelaide Post Office next door, and defendant Henry Woodhead, horse breeder, took their places. The witnesses in attendance were asked to take a seat with a clear view to the painting, and the sitting magistrate, the Honourable Mr Justice Cooper, commenced proceedings. It was Thursday morning, 6 April 1854.