The Express.
London, England, 1868-04-28 00:00:00

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.

Sittings in Banoo.—(Salon Justices Blackburn, Mellor and
Lush.)
WATCH( V. HALL.
- . .

This was a demurrer to a plea. The plaintiff, who is
M.P. for Stockport, the chairman of the South Eastern
Railway Company, and director of the Manchester, Shef-
field, and Lincolnshire Railway, as well OA of the Greed
Trunk of Cicada Railway Company, commenced an action
against the defendant for libel, in having uttered, in the
presence of certain stockbrokers, the following words :
'You have heard what bas caused the fall—l
mean the rumour about the chairman of the
South Eastern Railway having failed." And the
defondant pleaded a justirication to the declaration
the effect that in speaking the words complained of he
meant and was understood by the bystanders to mean
that there had bean and at the time was a rumour current
on the Stock Exchange that the chairman of the South
Eastern Railway had failed, but not that the railway had
become embarrassed or insolvent ; and that it was true
that there was such a rumour current. _

Mr. Beasley appeared in support of the demurrer, and
contended that the plea was bad. At the time that the
libel was uttered the South Fasters Railway shares were
going down in the market, and in the course of conversa-
tion the defendant made use of the language imputed to
him. The defendant did not deny the fact of having
dose so and the plaintiff did not impute that the defen-
dant hid invented the libel, but eontended that ha was
squally liable for having repeated the rumour as if he bad
invented it.

THE BIRMINGHAM STATUS or THE LATH PEINCH
Comionr.—Yeeterday this statue, by Foley, was formally
uncovered by the Mayor (Mr. Monier AVtzlet t
em.* ile m-
em of • large number of pompom of all
On Friday last the Rev. Augustus Macdonald
Hopper, clerk, M.A., was collated to the areladesconry et
Norwich, in the gift of the Lord Bishop of Norwich, by
virtue of his bishopric, and on the next day be was In-
stalled in the aithedraL On the rune day the Rev.
George Peter Buck, clerk, was instituted to the rectory of
Alderford with Attlebridge annexed, in Norfolk, on the
presentation of the Dean and Chapter of Norwich.
POISONED ET CellEZ FUMES. —An inquiry was
held by Mr. W. J. Payne, the deputy-coroner led
evening at the West London Union Board-room, Thinlem%
inn, Holborn, respecting the death of Benjamin Jams.
aged 65 years. The deceased was employed as • waidirma
AS Mr. Morrell's, an electrotyper, in Fetter-lane. Oa
Friday night he made up the furnace Sr. with oohs, wad
marl down Wore it, having previously dosed the doors and
two out of the three ventilators. On Saturday morning be
was found in the same position, dead, the cause of death,
awarding to the evidence of Dr. 'glimpsed, being the
inhalation of sulphurous acid emitted in the fumes of the
coke. A verdict to that effect was returned by the jury.
A " BLUE-Serocinvo CLua."—A new society ham
MM been established in New York under theAv name of the
COURT OF COON PLEAS. • Blue Sg Cl," composed excluatve of es of
Stipp in Itanao.--gitfore Lord Chief Judie and literary andleekin artisticub taska and Practice& The list meet-
Julies Ryles, Keating, and Smith.) lag wee held a few days eizioe. Those met down
CHANDLER 0. THE GREAT WINTERS MAMMA! 00MT/lIT. es permanent members are Mrs. D. G.
This was an action to recover damages in temequenes ittUle June) Mrs. Jame Parton (Fannybet It Feral,
of Mrs. Chandler having been killed whilst peering along Luca Gilbert Cahoots, Mrs. -
a level crossing at the Swindon station, on the evening dud, Mrs. Ann S. 13 Misses Olive Logan,
el the 9th of °nobs, last. The lady was well Late Field,. Allen and Phoebe Amanda IL Doug-
&squinted with the station, the night was dark and gusty, lad, Mrs Henry Field !Gs Karr benuner Ames, Kra.
and she was leaving the station ten minute, after the other keg Hodge, Mrs. F. Ames, Kra. Laura Leelsir
pammengere, when she win knocked down by • milk van, rhfillpa, Mrs. FileAt, Mime Mary L Booth, Kim Dunning,
which was being slowly moved from place to place. The (Shirley Dare) ten. Elisabeth Cad, Stanton, Miss Mum
negligence alleged on the part of the; company was, that Anthony, Miss Char& &wage, Mn. Allred BIM'
they ought sot to ban moved • via over the creaming Werlk. Mfr Clara Lades Kellogg, and • sere of
without placing • cantitre to take sere that merman wad other artists In words, colours, marble, music, and
injured while paring. At the trial item the Lard Obit hisnionism. A number of honorary members met
Baron, at Gloucester, the verdict was for the plaintiff for of town ST. prepped SS Mrs. Jolla Ward Howe,
7501. Mrs. Harriet Pronsenauldirt :red, Mn. Marlin Beeler
Kr. H. James a few days ago moved for • ride for • Stowe, Mrs. Reim' Davis, Mn. Odeon Walton
Dew trial, and stated that the Lord Chief Baron had , 'Awn, Elsa Abigail Dodge Hamilton), MismAn=
directed the jury in fieliing them the question was only J.
•Huinn, and may other ladies. It hie bees
of damages' that in truth his lordshit Mandl found the Maw that ler the better "'Min out of the
me*and simply left ft to thejury to immg the yees the menaimrs shell meet one • name at • musk et
amount of demos He aim submitted that the lady ThOn. sateen and shall ban smi remise at lisle own
bad herself been guilty at negligee.* in not looking to me imam w may be Mend ISK.llllldent
whether anytMog ma tooling. Ourwant, Man or rum 11THANS 17TH Arum.
TM Lord Mel Justine sow odd that II apwasnal beam —Sons, Alga M.—,The &Lego left for .11mbay at 8
the short-hand entitles notes that though the Lord OW pm. yesterday.

671thWert of the defendant, Mr. Hall contended that
tifyleavv=randthat hie client was entitled to
hiro the
tact were proved that ..urdi a rumour was prevalent on
the Stock Exchange, sad that the defendant merely re-
peated what he had beard that would be a good defence
to the action.

Mr. Justice Blackburn was of °Anion that the plea was
a bad one, sod held that the defendant was responsible
for making use of a Matentant which, although be had not
invented it, he knew would be injurious to the person to
whom it referred, and gave judgment in favour of the
- . . . .

Kr. JUJU,* Lush was of the same opinion.
Judgment foe the plalstiff isoeortiagly.
At the conclusion of this case the Lard Chief Jostle',
who had been presiding at the Fenian Isiah; at the Old
Bailey, entered the court and took his seat an the beach.