On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
The Court of Queen's Bench, says the London Times, wu lately occupied with a ease of great importance to the commercial world. In the month of July, 1857, a report reached the head-quarters in London of the South Eastern Railway Company that the Lewes Bank had stopped payment. The cashier of the company adopted the report, and telegraphed to their servants at the various stations on the line that they were to take no more notes or checks on the Lewes Bank. The notice of the alleged stoppage was also ported up at some of the stations, alongside a correct announcement that the Hastings Bank had suspended payment. In consequence of the publication of the false report, there was a run upon the Lewes Bank, in order to meet which the securities had to be realized at an enormous loss. The jury gare a verdict for the plaintiff, with $10,000 damages. It appeared from the statement of the counsel that if the message of the cashier had not been published at the stations, it might have been looked upon as a privileged communication between the cashier and the subordinate servants of the company.
