BIG LIBEL CASE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 990, 3 December 1910, Page 5

BIG LIBEL CASE.

£12,000 IN, DAMAGES. By,Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. London, December 1. , Damages of £12,000 were awarded against Sir John Bfinn, a member of the London County Council, patentees of the Stud system of tramways. _ Plaintiffs contended that Sir John Bonn, from political motives, denounced their system, which the Moderates in the London County Council had experimented with, thereby securing its abandonment. , ' Mr. Justice Ridley, in summing up tho case, said it was not denied that the system as installed ' at. Milo End was a failure, but this was attributed to tlio method of installing it. The jury must consider whether tho words impugned .referred to tho system as installed, or to the whole system. Ho emphasised tho point, regarding fair commcnt, that a person should get his facts right. Tlio jury found that the words were defamatory and malicious; and that tho words were statements of fact, not of opinions. A stay of judgment was allowed on payment of £5000 into Court with a view to an appeal. Actions for libel were also brought by tie patentees of the Stud tramways system against several' London newspapers, ■but these were withdrawn, private-set-tlements being made, and tho papers expressing regret. During the case it was stated that in 1507. tho County Council adopted the plaintiff's patent system of tramway traction. It obviated both, the. use of underground conduits and. overhead wires. The County. Council did not allow the plaintiffs to instal the system; the council themselves installed it. the plaintiffs being merely licensers. The system put in by the council proved a failure, and eventually had to be taken out. . Tho, position adopted hy the plaintiffs was that the system tho council were putting in was not the plaintiffs' system, but one which- the council, without authority, had so far modified that instead of it working well it proved a dismal failure.