CURATE WINS' HIS LIBEL ACTION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1957, 14 January 1914, Page 7

CURATE WINS' HIS LIBEL ACTION.

CASE OF THE REV. THOMAS GHENT. ; By Teleeraph—Prtss Association—CopyriEM •London, JftitHnT.VftbJ-ii'ii Oil the rot rial of the liisc! ease Uia Ksv. Thomas Ghent v. Fitzgerald., a verdict was given for tho plaintiff ami ■■■•■■■ £100U damages awarded. Fitzgerald asked for an adjournment on tiio ground that lie was without means ami unable, like Ghent, to ;.ip;K'al to the public i'o , .' subscriptions.. The Judge refused, and pointed out that if ho was without 'means the law provided Hip machinery. liesides damages, Sir. Ghent obtained an iiijuna-. .:. tion against repetition el' jt|ie slander,, , ... (Roc. January U, 0.10 a.m..).,. . {LoncSori, January 13. Fitzgerald said that ho wrolo on Satimiay'asking llro Bishop of Soiithsvark to hold an inquiry. The Consistory Court <k'sirwl an adjournment until t:ie Bishop had replied, but tho Judge .pointed out" the law provided the machinery, •by which pmplc 'without means could bo- •■ protected. ■ Fitzgerald said that ho had been unable to eross-oxamiiip so nblo and slibtro a"man as tho plaintiff, and dramatically . left tho court. Tlii- was an action (heard in November la=tj iiirfituioil by the llov. Thomas Ghent, curate of, St. Andrew s, Stodnve.U acaiimt one Fife-jerald, of Clnplvnm,_ a police sorpoaiit, rto rat to fte pansli vo'lrv nnd nlleg«l that Mr. Unont Had comuiitteii misconduct with his wife, who was an active churcli woflier. -Mr. Clhent was employed in Australia, ami New Zealand (Clyde, Ota K o) from ISM to ISOG jrrs. Filzgcrald, who is aged fifty, in til! 1 witness-lKix, admitted misconduct, inclii'lins!-an allogcil apranlt. during a j urn Wo sale, Oilier, prtdence showetl thai: slip was lWUTotic, alwl that her huslMiiut bad prnviously nccuwd flnotlicr r.nratc at i'onl-'iv of sitnilar" misconduct, but thn ciiraip was ivcquitled after tho Bislioji s inquirv. Mr.. Ghent, in his evideiice, accHfoil tire police seTgcanf of Wnckinailinn him. Tho Lord Chief Justice (Sir l?ufns Isaacs), in summim; up. said if Ghent was right then Use n{legations ww' a wicked fabrication or the. result of a neurotic womad's hHllneinatmns. If tlw.. (Ipfr-iislaiit was then Glient was a wickml, livpocrilicnl liar of Hio nwst. «<>- . KPiijilion.' After Iwiei; reliruiß till l jury, disagreed, and were discharßfd.