A case of considerable importance to shareholders and directors of
railway companies was tried last week in the Queen's Beuch, Mr. Parsons, chairman of the Hammersmith Railway Company, and another director, purchased the Talbot estate, in the direct course of the projected line, and then sent in, through other parties, a claim for an amount in compansation five times the highest valuation. Mr. Surgey, a shareholder, to whose know- ledge this had come, stated the facts to his fellow victims, and Mr. Parsons was requested to resign. He then brought the present action for damages against Mr. Surgey, the principal points urged being that the company was virtually merged in a contractor who had taken nearly all the shares, and that its interests were, there- fore, but slightly affected ; that the claim was sent in without his knowledge, and that Mr. Surgey's statement to the shareholders had been made out of personal malice against Min rather than a desire to benefit them. The Chief Justice made some very strong remarks on the plaintiff's conduct, but the jury appear to have considered Mr. urgey's animus sufficiently proved to justify a verdict of 251. damages.
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