AN INTERESTING LIBEL CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3773, 7 March 1913, Page 5

AN INTERESTING LIBEL CASE.

HANDSOME VICTORY FOR A NEWSPAPER.

[PRESB ASSOCIATION TELEGEAIG

NEW PLYMOUTH, March 6. In the Supreme Court to-day a farmer named James George Johnston, of Fraser Road, Hawera, proceeded against Thomas C. List, proprietor of the "Taranaki Daily News” for £5Ol damages for alleged libel. At the last sittings of the Supreme Court plaintiff unsuccessfully proceeded against the “Taranaki Herald” for alleged libel contained in the heading and body of a report of a libel qase heard at a previous sitting in which lie figured. Thereupon the “Taranaki Daily News” commented editorially on the unsatisfactory state of the libel laws of the country which permitted a case of such a trumpery nature to be brought against a newspaper for doing its duty by the public, arguing that before* a writ for libel or slander was issued the merits of the proposed action should be investigated by a magistrate, and only proceeded with if thhe magistrate was satisfied a prima facie case had been established, and that an amount of money sufficient to cover the costs should be deposited with the Court. Johnston then demanded an apology from the “News” for reflecting upon his bona fides, which was _ refused. Then he issued a writ against the “News” for alleged libel. The case caused a great deal of interest and the jury, after five minutes’ ■'fjbtirement, returned’ a verdict for the defendant newspaper with costs on the highest scale. Plaintiff conducted his own case, whilst Mr M. Myers, of Wellington, appeared for the “Taranaki News.”