A DECISION REVERSED.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 306, 23 December 1908, Page 5

A DECISION REVERSED.

CLAIM FOR £60,000.

LOSS Oj? A CONCESSION. LONDON, December 22. The Court of Appeal has, after a hearing extending over 50 days, reversed the decision given by the King's Bench division of the High Court in the case in which Mr. Isodore Wyler and the Ibo and Nyassa Corporation, Limited, obtained damages amounting to £65.000 against Lewis and others for alleged conspiracy, which caused a loss of concessions in Portuguese Nyassaland estimated to be worth £250,000.

A stay of execution has been granted ■with a view to an appeal to the House of Lords.

After a hearing of thirty-three days, involving legal expenses amounting to £70,000, a jury in the Court Kings Bench Division of the High Court awarded Mr. Isodore Wyler, and the Ibo and Nyassa ! Corporation, Limited, £65,472 damages I against Messrs. Lewis and Marks, finjanciers in the city, Mr. John Seear, Mr. Charles F. Rowsell, for conspiracy in 'connection with the company, causing a jloss of concessions estimated to be worth I £250,000. Mr. Isodore Wyler claimed I that there had been a conspiracy on the part of the defendants to oust him of all his benefits in connection with the Nyassaland company. In 1893 the company was incorporated according to the :laws of Portugal to acquire by chartet jan important concession in Nyassaland. '.Mr. Wyler was approached by the company to make provision for its financing, and he did so. Later on Messrs. Lewie and Marks came On the scene, and wanted jto enter into a contract with the comjpany. They set themselves to work, it is alleged, to counteract the influence of Mr. Wyler, and obtain control. After many years of negotiation, the properly was Isold to Messrs. Lewis and Marks for I £100,000, and they afterwards received back in consideration of preference shares : which they held £92,000 of that amount. Mr. Wyler only received £500, and altogether he had lost £40,000 in the company. Mr. Wyler alleged that Mr. Lewis had carried out his threat to crush him if he did not come to terms.