THE LARNACH LIBEL CASE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2043, 22 January 1889, Page 2

THE LARNACH LIBEL CASE

— . — (PfCR PRBBB ASSOCIATION.) > Wellington. January 21. The only evidence called for the defence m Lurnaoh v "Now Z»aland Herald," was that of Mr G. M. Reed, who wrote the first article oomplalned of, and Mr W. Berry, editor of the " New Zealand Herald," who wrote the second. They depoaed they wrote without maifca m the public interoa 1 , oa what they supposed to be (ho true facts of ibo oaaa. An apology hid be6n published m the paper, and aitso tendered privately by toiogcam to Mr Larnnoh, when it was asoortained the fflots wore wrong. Mr Gully asked Hio Honor to dtreot the juy that the articles wore justified oa the clroomataaoQ* the writers had before them, bat Judge Richmond said the latter were bound to assure themselves tho facts were cortect ' before commenting on them. Counsel having addressed the jary brhfly, His ' Hoaor sammed up, pointing out that the facts upon wh eh comment was baaed by 1 publlo wrltora moat be established oa i ' reasonable evldenou. He quoted several oaaea Including Bryoo v Ruaden, to show 1 the state of the law, and said It had been > admitted there was an error In the faoti, The jury, after retiring fifty minutes, j returned and asked what sum would oarry coate. His Honor said costs were now at , the discretion of the Judge, The jury then gave a verdlot for plaintiff, damages £600. Ousts were allowed on the middle I scale.