THE OPOTIKI LIBEL CASES

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 585, 21 March 1891, Page 3

THE OPOTIKI LIBEL CASES

EDITOR, CLERGYMAN. AND SCHOOL

THE EDITOR PLEADS GUILTY.

[special to the standard.]

Auckland, last night. After all those engaged in .he libel cases from Opotiki have long been kept Wai lit g in the city, the first case was called on to-day. The case was Rev. T. J. Wills v. Stewart Bates, editor of the Opuiiki Heta’d. Mr Cooper appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Rees for the accused.

Pleas of not guilty and of justification were up by the defence Jusiifieation was made on the grounds—That ihe piosecutor ha■» written letters to public newspapers under the name of Dt-mcs, reflecting on the character <»f Mt Wyatt personally and as school leacher ; that Mr Wyatt, as alleged in the. article, was very ill and nquited perfect rest, and had obtained a month’s leave cf absence; that Mr Wills had secretly written a private letter to the Central Board of Education, making serious and untrue charges against Mr Wyatt, without the knowledge of the local committee; 'hat on Mr Wills’ return from Auckland he endeavored to abstract the school roll for the purpose of facilitating his design to have Mr Wyatt removed, hut was frustrated; that subsequently Miss Boyd, assistant teacher, obtained the mil and handed it to Mr Wills, contrary to school reguia’ions ; that to pievent further irregulari ies, Mr Wyatt was compelled at the lisk of his life, to resume his -chool duties, and that Mr Wills was well aware of the state of Mr Wyatt’s health, and the possibility of a fatal termination consequent upon the anxiety ; that Mr Bates had neen told, as alleged in ihe article, that Mi Wills bad openly announced that tu would have Mr Wyatt removed from the position of head master of the school.

It was found impossible to prove every point of the plea, and in consequence of strong hints from the Judge it was decided to abandon ’he plea, because if one point failed all, according to law, must fail, and at the of the prosecutor’s case, after a hhm ad j >urnment, the plea was withdrawn and defendant pleaded guilty. The Judge intimated that he would take the withdrawal into consideration when passing sentence, which was deferred until after the Wyatt v. Wilis case to-morrow (Sataiday). Great interest is taken in the cases here.