ACTION AGAINST MR FARJEON.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1865, 14 February 1880, Page 2

ACTION AGAINST MR FARJEON.

Mr Justice Lindley has tried an action which was brought against Mr B. L. Farjeon by a Mrs Earle, who had lived for some years in Russia, had acquired a knowledge of the language, and bad translated some Russian tales into English. Among them were “The Madman’s Diary,” “Logoff,” “The Carriage,” “Faust,” “The Captain’s Daughter,” and “The Adherents of Poojatchoff.” In September, 1877, she saw the defendant, a literary man, in connection with getting these translations published. They were not published here, and the defendant took them with him to America. He also, at the request of the plaintiff, handed her £5 and took the following receipt:— “ London, Oct. 12th, 1877.

“ Received of Mr B. L. Farjeon the sum of £5 on account of certain translations from the Russian, the sole right and control of which are herewith given to Mr Farjeon, it being understood that if they are published they will be paid for at the rata of not less than 30s for twelve printed magazine pages, ‘ Tinsley’s Magazine ’ being taken as the basis. “ Jbssib Eakle.” The plaintiff now claimed the return of these tales, they never having been published, and also the return of a translation of a Russian historical romance, and a play called the “ Post Boy,” an original work. For the defendant it was said that he took some trouble to obtain the publication of the tales, and he was willing to return the manuscript that he had, upon repayment of the £5, which he had handed to the plaintiff. As to the play, however, this was sent to him by post when in America; but a second parcel which contained some sketches by Savitzski, a Russian artist, some music for the play, and so on, had never reached him. The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff for £7O if .the manuscripts were not returned, and for £25 for their detenHon.