AN ACTION FOR LIBEL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2214, 11 June 1908, Page 3

AN ACTION FOR LIBEL.

ANONYMOUS CORRESPONDENCE A SOCIETY CASE. Press Association. TIMARU, Juno 10. At tlio District Court to-day, an action was taken by Judgo Haselden and a jury of four. Airs. Simons, proprietor of a foa-room, sued tlio wifo of Dr. C. E. Thomas for libel contained in an anonymous letter addressed to F. \V. Burnley, a customer of hors, to her caro. /Tho letter, written in a disguised infantile hand, stated tliat sonic women it referred to wore no good. strs. Simons had received a day or two boloro an anonymous letter warning her that sho would get into trouble with “that inan.” Each dtp-wed tlho letters to the other. Burnley produced two friendly loiters written to him by defendant about tho time of tlio alleged libel (February last) to enable experts, Charles Ed gar, of tho “Lyttelton Times” engraving department, and J. .51. Miller, clerk, to compare the anonymous letters with these, and they wore of tho opinion that all four were written by tlio same person. No witnesses wore called for the defence, counsel saying ho would not subject defendant to the indignity of denying what ho believed to bo a trumped-up charge instigated by Burnley, a man who had boen treated with tho most unusual kindness by defendant. Ho suggested to tlio jury that Burnley had concocted tho letters himself. The jury found for defendant on all issues,' and judgment went accordingly with costs. slr. Hanlon, of Dunedin, appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. S. 11. Raymond for defondant.