Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1878-08-10 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

SIMS REEVES AND HIS CONCERT ENGAGEMENTS. AN ACTION FOR LIBEL.  At the North-Eastern Circuit, Leeds, the case of Ramsden v. Spark came before Lord Justice Baggalley and a special jury. This was an action for libel, which apparently excited great interest in the neighbourhood. The plaintiff wee a music-dealer and pianoforte-maker of considerable note in Leeds, and wits in the habit of giving eubecription concert, of high-class music in Leeds. The defendant was the publisher of the Leeds Express, a local evening paper. The plaintiff had engaged Mr. Sims Beeves to sing at one of his concert, at Leeds, to be given on the 22nd of February hut, and had large bills printed, one set of which merely announced the concert,and that Mr. Sims Reeves was to sing, while the other at announced that Mr. Sims Reeve. had arrived. The bill-pater, owing to some mistake, posted both sets of bills about the town. Thom auto " the arrival" ought not to have been posted, an Mr. Sims Beeves had not arrived, and did not, in fact, arrive at all or sing, being unwell, as appeared from a letter written by his wife. Some days after the cow art the alleged libel appeared in the Leeds Express, the defendant's paper. It was as follows : Put not your trust in tenors! Such most be the feeling of a well-known concert-giver in Leeds. This gentleman had engaged Mr. Sims Reeves to sing at a concert, which was held the other day, and knowing the great tenor seldom or never disappointed the public, he had no hesitation in sending out bills announcing, with the usual flourish of trumpets, that 'Mr. Sims Beeves bed arrived.' Of course, the statement was euetirely untrue, but then in a day or two it would betrue, and there was no harm in a gentle stimulus to the public meanwhile. But, alse ! the larynx of a greet tenor ie subject to diseases inscrutable to ordinary mortals. Mr. Beeves, strange to my, became unwell, and the day after the placards stating that he had arrived were posted he wrote to say he could not come. Cruel letter--cruel to the manager, who was at his wit's-end, and doubly cruel to the misguided people, who, after paying their seven-andel:pounces, asked for Beeves and got BlagboroHamden. Of course, the mendacious paters had to be covered up in all had°, but the mischief could not be undone." It appeered that on the afternoon or evening of the day, when it was known that Mr. Sims Reeves could not come, the plaintiff had the posters announcing the arrival posted over so as to obliterate thew, and that in the local papers the fact that he was not coming was announced. The defence was that the alleged libel was merely a fair comment on the pnblic. ante of a public roan, and, if not fair comment, that there was no damage beyond that which was covered by a shilling, which was as an alternative defence paid into court. It should be observed that Mr. Barns den, in his efforts to supply the place of Mr. Haves at the concerts, not merely procured the services of Mr. Blegboro, but sang himself, hence the phrase in the. alleged libel " Blegboro-Bameden," he being a singer of some note. The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff for 40a, for whom judgment was accordingly entered.  A FLoExwnsrE TILAGIthIr. The following tragedy which occurred at Florence, has created a most painful impression. It appears that M. Barto- , lommeo Zandenella, profeesor of beilea-lettrea, entertained improper relations with a Madame Anglolies Fineschi Bartell, to whom, on Sunday last, Madame Zaudenella paid a visit, in order to repeat the cessation of this intercourse. Madame ;Beulah's brother was present. The interview had already lasted mine timewhen M. Zandenella, having learned what woe going on, suddenly entered the apart- t meet in a violent passion. He seised a revolver and , fired a shot at Madame Bartali's brother, who fortunately evaded the ball by throwing himself on the floor. The infuriated professor then fired two shots , at Madame Bartell, who fell down dead. All thin , took place in the presence of his wife, who reminded , him, in vain, of his five children. Turning the murderous weapon against himself, he received a shot, and immediately a'ter fell down seriously wounded. A terrible scene ensued. Madame Barteli's three I children, her relativee, and maid servant, crying i loudly, several persons entered the apartment, severely ' ill-treated the murderer, and would have killed him but for the timely arrival of the police, who conducted him to the hospital.