LIBELLED IN A DEATH NOTICE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1931, 13 December 1913, Page 5

LIBELLED IN A DEATH NOTICE.

DAMAGES AGAINST MELBOURNE "ARGUS." By Telegraph-Press Association-Co pyricht Melbourne, December 12. Mrs. Florence Webbo lias been awarded £75 damages against tl.io "Argus" for libel contained-in ftn advertisement exactly similar to tliat published by the "Ago." Stay of proceedings' lias .bec-n granted.

Mrs. Wsbbe, formerly Miss Hobson, married Nicholas Percy Webbe, a, professional shorthand writer, formerly a member of tlio Federal Hansard staff, and a . well-known oarsman, on January 8, 1912. About June, 1912, Webbo and' -his wife look lip their rowdcnco at Waverley, Sydney. Tliey had ne children, but on March 21, 3i)lii a death notice appeared in the "Age" purporting to an. nounce the death of on elevsn-mpnth*oi<l sort of Webbo and his wife at their residence at Waverley. Plaintiff's counsel raid that the advertisement conveyed the impression that a child had l>cen born about April, 1012. This might convoy 11)9 impression that misconduct had taken place between Mr. and Mrs. Webbo before marriage. 'J'ho defence' was that Hie advertisement was not: defamatory) either to those knowing nothing of the parties or those intimately acauainted with them. The "Age" had received the copy of tho advertisement, purporting [ to be sicned by Nicholas .P. Webwi and, t.skiug it as genuine, had inserted it. j Mrs. Webbo was awarded <£-100 damages.