ANDREAS KURTZ 141 



better and more profitable mines of Ireland. 

 Kurtz had to abandon his mining operations, 

 and endure the loss. 



In 1836, Gossage patented his apparatus 

 for condensing muriatic acid, in the same 

 year Lutwyche patented his salt-cake furnace, 

 his close roaster, with one portion for decom- 

 posing, and the other for roasting ; in 1839, 

 J. C. Gamble patented his salt-cake furnace. 

 The validity of Gamble's patent was disputed ; 

 Lee on the Tyne, Kurtz at St. Helens, and 

 probably others, worked furnaces, which 

 Gamble considered to be an infringement of 

 his patent, and he entered actions, first against 

 Lee, and then against Kurtz, which led to 

 prolonged and most expensive lawsuits. The 

 case Gamble v. Kurtz was tried at West- 

 minister, in the spring of 1846, before Mr. 

 Justice Coltman. Sergeant Channel was 

 retained for Gamble, and Sergeant Talfourd 

 for Kurtz. 



There were six pleas entered by Kurtz in 

 his defence, and the verdict of the jury was 

 for Gamble on the first, fourth, fifth, and sixth 

 issues, whilst on the second and third pleas 

 their decision inclined to Kurtz. The result 

 was that leave was reserved to either party to 

 move to enter the verdict for him on this 



