The Debt-Ridden Lawyer: The Story of Kow Soon Kim (Bukit Brown)

A simple marble headstone uncovered in Bukit Brown. The marble headstone reads; 

437A

In Loving Memory

of 

Kow Soon Kim

Died 8 April 2602

Age 62 years

A simple marble headstone but it possibly helped me uncover a story mostly people have forgotten. With the age and timeline matching, I matched Mr. Kow Soon Kim (高順金) to lawyer Kow Soon Kim who lived during that timeline. When we think of lawyers in old Singapore, we usually think of rich, successful people. But history also has stories of people who struggled. One of these people was Kow Soon Kim, a local lawyer who made a sad confession in court in 1940. 

Kow Soon Kim

From Bangkok to Singapore

On 24 February 1906, the Unity Club (of Stra-ts-born Chinese) at Bangkok gave a farewell dinner to Mr. Kow Soon Kim, late marshall of the British Court for Siam on his leaving that port for England where he intends to study law and to read for the bar. Kow Soon Kim was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple on 5 May 1909. Kow Soon Kim, late of the Siamese bar, was duly admitted to practice at Singapore bar in May 1913 by Mr. Justice Sproule, on the motion of the Hon. E.C. Eillis. 

In May 1912, he asked the Supreme Court of the Straits Settlements for permission to become a lawyer. His application was checked and approved by the Bar Committees in Penang and Singapore. On 12 May 1913, he took his official oath. A few months later, on 16 August 1913, he received his official certificate. 

source: Roots.sg (National Museum Singapore. Gift of Mr. Koh Seow Chuan, DP Architects Pte Ltd, Singapore)

The debt-ridden lawyer - A Hard Life Confessed in Court

By September 1940, Kow Soon Kim was around 60 years old. He had been working as a lawyer for more than 25 years. But he was not rich or ready to retire. Instead, he had to stand before a judge in the High Court of Singapore to talk about his own money problems. During the hearing, he told the judge something shocking. He admitted that he had been in debt ever since he first started his business. Even though he worked as a lawyer for a quarter of a century, he could never make enough money to pay off what he owed. The headline of one of the articles read: The Bankruptcy of Lawyer - Paid Up $20,000 by work for creditors. Examined by Mr. T.L. Tan (assistant Official Assignee) the bankrupt by his own petition has liabilities totaled about $7,000. Kow Soon Kim said that he was still in practice and his net monthly income was about $180 and monthly expenditure about $300. 

Debt-ridden lawyer

Epilogue 

Post war, i found only 1 more article that mentions Kow Soon Kim of No. 84 Cairnhill Road, Solicitor. It is The Bankruptcy Orinance informing creditors to come forward with their claims. If you have any more information, do share. 

[research on-going]

Location of tomb

Block 1 Division B, plot 437A

Marble tomb of Kow Soon Kim

Burial entry of Kow Soon Kim 

References

Tuesday, 6th March. (1906, March 8). The Straits Budget, page 9

Social and Personal. (1913, May 16). Pinang Gazette and Social Chronicle, page 6 

Suit Against Lawyer. Chettiar Wins Pro. Note Claim. Interest held not Exorbitant. (1940, May 9). The Straits Budget. page 12

Bankruptcy of Lawyer. Paid Up $20,000 By Work for Creditors. (1940, September 5). The Straits Budget, page 9

Debts of 60-Year-Old Lawyer. (1940, September 3). Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle. page 4 

Registrar's certificate of the Supreme Court, Penang for Kow Soon Kim. ( website). Roots.sg.National Museum Singapore. Gift of Mr. Koh Seow Chuan, DP Architects Pte Ltd, Singapore

Registrar's certificate of the Supreme Court, Singapore for Kow Soon Kim. ( website). Roots.sg.National Museum Singapore. Gift of Mr. Koh Seow Chuan, DP Architects Pte Ltd, Singapore

Kow Soon Kim