The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-08-14 00:00:00

THE "QUEEN'S MESSENGER" AGAIN
IN COURT.

- - - _
V.
At Croydon Arises, on Tneaday, the cause of Hughes
Moray" was heard, which was an action brought II Mr.
Hughes, the late publisher of the Queen's Mesenger, against
Mr. G. curiae-Murray, the proprieb r, to recover dantages for
wraingfr.l dismissal arid the payment of arrears if salary to
which he claimed to be entitled. Mr Day and Mr. Kemp
were counsel jr the plaintiff, mr. Garth, Q.C., merely ap-
peared to watch the caw for the defendant, me action being
virtually undefended..
Mr. Day, in opening the case, said that the jury had,
no doubt, hear clot the pr.iceedings that had lately taken
place in reference to the journal called the Qvien's
Meseenger, but it would not be necessary for him to
enter into any of these matters on the present OCCa5iOll.
'rho action was brought by Mr. Hughes against
the defendant, Mr. Grenvi In Murray, under these
circumstances :—Toe plaintiff was formerly the pub.
lieh• r of a journal called Quiz, and in the early part
of the year MA Mr. Murray alma- d to him
•to
become the publisher the Queen's Illmenger, which
was then about to be brought out, and he miusented to
do to. The agreement was that he was to receive a
commission upon the tale of the journal, also a com-
mission upon the advertisements, and he was also to be
paid a bonus of two guineas per week. Things went on
very well for some time, and the journal appeared to
be growing into favour with the public ; Mit euidenly,
in tne month of June, Mrs. Murray went to the office
and aMised the plaintiff most grossly, and insisted upon
his Is iving the place immediately.
The learned judge anted if he understood him rightly
to say that it was Mrs. Murray wim did all this. (A
laugh)
Mr. Day Oh, yes, my lord; she went to the office'
alum, d the plaintiff for along time, Cnhl.d him a thief,
and ordered him to go away at once. (R.-mewed
laughter.) The learned coun-el went on to eay that
in consequence of this proem ding, the plaintiff had
lost all toe benefits he expected to derive from his
connection with the Queen's Messenger, and being un-
able to obtain redress in any other mariner, he had
been compelled to bring the present action.
Mr. John Hughes, the plaintiff, was then examined.
He said that he was formerly the publisher of a journal
called Quiz, and in the beginning of the year 1868 Mr.
Grenville Aliaray called upon him, and asked him to
give up hit then engagement and undertake the pub-
lication of the Q net n's Meesenger, and devote all his
time and attention to it. He at first objected, but
ultimately consented to the terms proposed by Mr.
Murray, which were that he was to have 10 per cent.
commission on the sale up to 1,000 copies, and 12) per
cent. up to 2,000, and he waste have 25 percent. on the
amount received for advertisements, and &bonus of two
guineas per week. At first, it was proposed that the
Queen's Messenger should only be published during the
sitting of Parliament; but afterwards it was arranged
that the paper ahouldbe kept on after Parliament had
adjourned, and his engagement was to continue on the
same term.. He went on publishing the paper until
the beginning of June, when Mrs. Murray came to the
office and made use of very strong language to him.
(A laugh).
Mr. Day: And you left?
Mr. Hoghes said he did not exactly leave, but Mr.
Murray's counsel and his solicitor came to the office,
and with the assist mce of the printer they forcibly
ejected him. A few days after this had happened he
called upon Mr. Murray, and asked him whether
Wale arrangement could not be made to prevent the
disputes that had taken place, and for him to continue
the publication of the Queen's Messenger, but Mr.
Murray denied all knowledge of him or of the Queen's
Messenger, and ordered him to leave the room.
Mr. Garth having intimated that he had nothing to
say on behalf of the defendant.
Mr. Day, in summing up the case, said he thought
that Mr. Grenville Murray had exercised a very sound
discrstion in not defending the action, as it was quite