ALLEGED LIBEL IN A DEATH NOTICE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1917, 27 November 1913, Page 7

ALLEGED LIBEL IN A DEATH NOTICE.

~ 4 UNUSUAL uw Silt ADVERTISEMENT IN THE"AGE.' By Toloirr&s'h—Proso Association—Copyright Melbourne, November 2G. An unusual typo of libol caso has' been begun in the County Court. Floronce Mabel Wcbbe, of Wavorloy, Sydney, claims £1000 from tlio newspaper "Age," as damages for libel. Tho facts'were that Mrs. Wcbbe, formerly Miss llobflon. married Nicholas Percy Webbe, a professional shorthand writer, formerly a member of the Federal Hansard stall', and a well-known oarsman, on January 8, 1912- About June, 1912, Webhe and bis wife took up their residence at AVavc-rlcv, Sydney. They had no children, but on March 24, 1913, a. death notice appeared in the "Age purporting to announce tho death ol an ekven-months-old son of Webbe and Ins wife at their residence at AVaverley. 'Plaintiff's counsel said that the advertisement convoyed tho impression that a child had been born about April, 1912. This might convoy the impression that misconduct had taken place between Mr and Mrs. Wcbbo before marriage. 'The defeuco was that the advertisement was not defamatory, either t« those knowing nothing of the parties or those intimately acquainted with them. The "Age" had received the copy of tho advertisement, purporting to be signed by Nicholas P. Wobbc, and taking it as genuine, inserted it. Plaintiff gave evidence that sno ha< not authorised tho advertisement m an; form. Her husband's signature to tin marriage certificate was nothing like th signature on the advertisement, Edward Shaw, handwriting expert "avo evidence that he thought tho sie natures "Nicholas I*. Wcbbo" on th marriage register and on two copies o the advertisement were written by th same man. The case was adjourned. It is stated that the same- advcrtist ment appeared in the "Argus."