The 'Financial Critic'

Evening Star, Issue 7448, 17 February 1888, Page 4

The 'Financial Critic'

It will be remembered that a short time ago an article was published in New Zealand highly eulogistic of Sir Julius Vogcl, which was said to have appeared in a London monetary newspaper of standing named the 'Financial Critic' We copy the following from the London ' Echo ' (an evening paper) of December 28:—"Mr A. MacDonnell Green telegraphs us that to-day Mr Avory, assisted by Mr George Lewis, will apply at the Mansion House Police Court for a warrant against Mr Beall, proprietor of the ' Financial Critic,' on a charge of conspiracy to assault and injure him, in his office at 38 Poultry, E.C." Mr Green's story is as follows ;•-" Mr Beall is proprietor of a paper called the ' Financial Critic' I had occasion to bring out a company lately, and when engaged in doing so Mr Beall sent round for a page advertisement, with the message that he had two articles ready—which should he use ? I refused the advertisement, and he inserted a bad notice, leaving it to he inferred that I was a liar. A short time after this he sent round copies of the paper to all the shareholders of the company in (question. I accordingly called on him last Tuesday evening with a gentleman I met and gave him a thrashing. Four clerks assisted Beall, and one of them was struck by my friend, who, by the way, had previously interfered on Beall's behalf. The clerk then charged my friend with an assault. Mr Beall declined to prosecute me. I then wrote a letter to Mr Beall, telling him that i had committed the assault only with the view of ventilating the whole business before a Court of law, and threatening to do it again unless Beall prosecuted me. The case was tried at the Mansion House. I was the only witness for the defence. Sir Francis Truscott held there was a technical assault committed, and my friend was fined 20s, but no costs were allowed. Mr Beard, who appeared for the prosecution, had my letter in his hand, and referred to it, but would not charge me. On Thursday, _as appears in the printed report, taking into consideration the season of the year, I attempted to eft'ect a reconciliation through Beall's managing clerk. Beall said he would see me at five o'clock at my ofliee, as a friend. The reports in the newspapers, which show I was murderously assaulted, explain what took place. Mr Alderman Kuill described the two defendants as 'hired assassins.' Beall brought with him (1) SVickens, a professional bruiser; (2) Baker, a Leadenhall porter and professional bruiser ; (.1) Ellis, his managing clerk ; (4) Crawley, who is dangerously hurt ; (5 and (i) two' brothers named Webb; (7) an unknown man who ran yelling down the Poultry, and himself—in all, eight persons. The yells of the unknown fortunately brought the police upon the scene. Beall, as stated in the reports, simply introduced me to those who would have been my murderers had their plans been carried out."

The case will now be heard on its merits, and it is probable that the Public Prosecutor will take the whole matter up.