The Iron Times, a " first-class daily newspaper," started some months
ago "to supply a great want," seems to have been far too deeply absorbed in its great mission to pay any at- tention to the smaller but more definitely expressed wants of its contributors. Supplying this great want, however, does not seem to have been a remunerative task, and the paper ceased to exist after a very short period. Two Parliamentary reporters who had been engaged, as they say, for the session, were left without employment after the break-up of the paper while Parliament was sitting, and brought an action, tried at Croydon assizes on Thursday, on the alleged contracts. Mr. Wagstaffe, against whom the action was brought, de- scribed himself as a "general dealer in foreign and domestic goods," and denied all liability or partnership with the nominal proprietor, a Mr. Holt. Holt, it appeared, started the paper on the strength of the loan of 1,0001. from Wagstaffe, and a carefully drawn-up agreement was produced in proof of this. Holt afterwards received sums amounting to 3,000/. or 4,000/. more from Wagstaffe ; but the latter contended that no proof of partnership could be adduced, though he admitted that if the paper had been sold he should have claimed throe-quarters of the proceeds. He also pleaded that the contracts were not sessional, but weekly. The plaintiff's counsel declared that Holt was merely a man of straw, and that the paper was simply started by Wagstaffe in order to advertise commercial schemes with which he was connected—was this the "great want ?"—and evidence was brought to show that he had frequently interfered in the management. The jury decided for the defendant on every point put to them except one ; they were of opinion that after the engagements had been made by Holt, Wagstaffe's partnership had been admitted. Leave to move on this point was given.
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