A NEWSPAPER OFFICE BESIEGED.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue V, 3 August 1895, Page 140

A NEWSPAPER OFFICE BESIEGED.

A RESOLUTE EDITOR. Truth office (Sydney) has, at time of writing (says last week’s Bulletin, which arrived on Thursday), been ineffectually besieged for a fortnight by bailiffs, armed with legal process for the execution of Mr. Seymour Allan’s recent/ 1,000 libel-verdict. The premises, iron-barred throughout, and only approachable by a narrow laneway, are most favourably situated for withstanding investment by the sheriff —who, though he may lift the latch of any door or enter by any open skylight, is legally forbidden to break in. It is a cold time for the poor bailiff, and the July westerly blows the clippings through his whiskers and agitates the fringe at the feet of his pants. The staff is sealed up inside, and makes its entrances and exits under midnight difficulties (chiefly connected with hoisting gear), and with an elaborate strategy which would do credit to an autumn manoeuvre. But the paper comes out, and the great heart of the proprietary is still in the right place, despite its many troubles. The other day a well-known Sydney pressman came round with a subscription-list on behalf of a distressed brother of the guild, and the beleaguered management, having heard his tale from an upper window, promptly lowered a donation in a pannikin on the end of a string. Editor Taylor would probably stand for Parliament at the present election if it were not that so much of his time is occupied in getting out and in that there is very little left for politics. If the modus vivendi could be arranged with the plaintiff, the lengthy and talented journalist might yet be able to come forward and save his bleeding country. The Bulletin urges the plaintiff to consider this matter. It seems calamitous irony that so bright an intellect should be lost through a mere sordid difficulty with a bailiff. The latter person, too, is rapidly deteriorating through exposure in the lane, and may presently become useless through rheumatiz. This paper would, therefore, suggest, as the basis for a better understanding, that he should be withdrawn on condition that editor Taylor stands for Parliament, that gentleman pledging himself to admit the minion of the law if he is returned. If he isn't returned, then the siege can be resumed at the end of this month under less inclement conditions. The present mode of carrying on hostilities is an act of bowelless cruelty to the bailiff, an innocent third party, who may, for all that is known to the contrary, be a widower with a large family. During the siege there have been in the office one fire and two epileptic fits; also, editor Taylor, the other day, sang out to the bailiffs : ‘ Hey, there 1 Is there anyone in your crowd named Buckley?’ (A. G. Taylor had heard there was). ‘ Yes,’ cried one of the baffled bailiffs, hopefully, thinking the question a sign of surrender ; ‘ yes, why ?’ ‘ Well, you’ve got “ Buckley’s chance ” of getting in here, if you hang around for a century !’ Then there was grinding of teeth. A full supply of groceries has been hoisted to the upper windows ; likewise seven bedsteads have been passed in piecemeal through the iron-bars (bailiffs can’t legally seize anything which is being passed into a beleagured building), and the top skylight has been secured with barbed wire. The object of the defence, it may be stated, is to retain possession of the plant (leased months ago by the cjnductorsof Truth from libel-defendant Willis) until the Supreme Court shall have decided an interpleaderaction. And, finally, it is 40 to 1 that the plant, when finally seized and auctioned, won’t fetch enough to pay the costs of the siege, to say nothing of the original libel-verdict and costs.