MURRAY v. "THE TIMES."

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 192, 8 May 1908, Page 7

MURRAY v. "THE TIMES."

\ \ j LIBEL ACTION. . BV TF.LEGBAPn —rHESS ASSOCIATION— COPYXIGirI.: > London, May 6. An action'by John Murraythe publisher, against "Tho Times," has begun before jMr, Justice: Darling and a special juj"y in the Eipg's Bench division, of the High Court, for alleged libel contained in letters signed " Artifox," tho first of which appeared on October 19 last, dealing with the cost ok producing tho /'Letters of Queen Victoria." ... ■' , : Mr. \ Murray, in his evidence,.gavd details of the enormous cost of producing the book. 1 He' stated that on the first .edition of ten thousand copies, his profit was 23. 3Jd. per copy. '* '■ • 7 REMARKS COMPLAINED'OF. In the letter on which Mr. Murray's action for litel is, founded, " Artifex "—after referring to tho price, ,£3 3s. net, of the three volumes of "The Letters of Queen Victoria," as rendering thorn "inaccessible to all but .a privileged few"—goes ; on to say:—"ln ,an edition of 10,000—and ; surely no one ivould think of a smaller, circulation for a book of that unique character—the three volumes' as they actually appear would not cost moro than 9s. The, eontents, cost Mr.., Murray jiothing, and, if we assume., that he has paid ,£IOOO to each of the two editors, that would mean an Addition of 4s. per copy, making the cost price to him 13s. per copy. Now, if we allow him 25 per cent. Upon an oiitlay which will be recouped in three months, possibly, before he had paid his printer's bill, we find that he can sell the book to the trade at 16s. 3d. If we allow the trade 3s. 9d. for the not very arduous labour of conveying the book, from Mr. Murray to the buyer, the price to the buyer becomes..£l net. Mr. Murray charges JG3 '3s. net, so that, after everyone concerned has had fair, if not liboral, business remuneration'for his work, the book is loaded with 435., for which there is no justification whatevor. . . . I beliove that I'shall command the assent of all-the thinking portion of the public when I say that in accepting this task Mr. Murray assumed a fiduciary position. . He has exploited tho great personality of Queen Victoria for his own ends, and coined the national interest in her doings for his, own enrichment into 32 pieces of silver to be precise." j