AN UNUSUAL CASE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14834, 27 November 1913, Page 7

AN UNUSUAL CASE.

LIBEL ACTION OVER DEATH NOTICE.

(By Coble. —Prose Association—Copyright.)MELBOURNE, November 26. An unusual type of Jibel case has begun in the County Court. Florence Mabel Webbe, of Waverley, Sydney, claimed £1000 from tho newspaper "Age" as damages for libel. The facts were that Mrs Webbe, who was formerly Miss Hobson, married Nicholas Percy Webbe, a professional shorthand writer, formerly a member of the Federal ■ "Hansard" staff, and a well-known oarsman, on January Bth, 1912. About June, 1912, Webbe and his wife took up their residence at Waverley, Sydney! They lave no children, but on March 24th, 1913, a death notice appeared in the "Age," purporting to announce the death of an eleven months' old son of Webbe and his wife at their residence at Waverley. Plaintiff's counsel said the advertisement conveyed the impression that a child had been born about April, 1912, and might convey the impression that misconduct had taken place between Mr and Mrs Webbo before their marriage. The defence was that the advertisement was not defamatory either to those knowing nothing of the parties or to those intimately'acquainted with them. The "Ago ,, received a copy of the advertisement purporting to bo signed by Nicholas P. Webbe, and taking it as genuine, inserted it. Plaintiff gave evidence that she had not authorised the advertisement. Her husband's signature on the marringe certificate was nothing like tho signature on the advertisement. Edward Shaw, a handwriting expert, gave evidence that he thought the signatures of Nicholas P. Webbe on the marriage register and on the two copies of tho advertisement were written by the same man. The case was adjourned. It was stated that the same advertisement appeared in the "Argus."