A WELLINGTON LIBEL CASE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1749, 25 January 1888, Page 2

A WELLINGTON LIBEL CASE

(Peb Pbbss Association.)

Wellington, January 24. The proprietors of the " Evening Post " were defendants m an action for libel, which was heard m the Supreme Court to-day. The plaintiff, John Martin, late licensee of the City Hotel, sought to recover £1000 damages for injury alleged to hare been sustained m consequence of tho publication of an article m the 11 Post " of the Bth November last, with reference to the death of the wfo of plaintiff, who committed suicide m that month. Plaintiff alleged that the article imputed to him that be was a man devoid of ordinary humanity; th&t plaintiff was an habitual druukard ; that plaintiff was not a proper person to hold a publican's lioenee ; that he was callous, besotted with drink, of drunken habits, devoid of humanity, and an unfit person to be a licensed publican ; that the publication was false and malicious, and defamatory of plaintiff ; that, m consequence, plaintiff's interest m the City iJotel was depreciated, and tho plaintiff otherwise injured m bis business, Defen. dant* admitted publication, but denied that the words of the article had any other or further meaning than the ordinary and natural meaning of such words, or that plaintiff had sustained any special damago. The proceedings m connection with the inquest were then set out, and it was pleaded that the matter was' one of public interest, that tho article was fair and honest oomment upon the evidecoe, and that it was published without defamatory . intent. Defendants further pleaded that the articie was and is true m substance and m fact, according to the true and natural meaning of the words, and that the report of the proceedings at the inquest and publication thereof was made fairly and bonafidt for the public good, without any sinister or malicious motive, and in' the bona fide, belief of the truth thereof, and of every part thereof. After an hour's consideration the' special jury gave a verdict for defendants, with cbsta on the highest scale.