ALLEGED SLANDER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2414, 20 March 1915, Page 8

ALLEGED SLANDER

VERDICT FOR DEFENDANT. (By Telegraph.—Presß Association.) Gisborne, March 19.. The action in which Dr. Jas. M'lldownie, of Portsmouth, England, js claiming from his cousin, Mrs. \V. J. Buttimore (noe Gibson), of Gisborne, the sum of £6000 as damages for alleged slander, was concluded at the Supreme Court, before Mr. Justice Cooper and a jury, at a I;',to hour tonight. Dr. Bamford, of Auckland, represented the plaintiff, whose evidence, together with that of several witnesses in England, had been taken on commission. Mr. L. T. Rurnard, of [ Gisborne, appeared for defendant. It appeared that James Gibson had made a demise of property worth £6000 to tho plaintiff (Dr. M'lldownie). which he subsequently revoked, ultimately devising part of that property to Dr. M'lldotvnic's wife and children. The doctor alleged that defendant had influenced the testator in changing liis will, and had slandered plaintiff by imputing drunkenness to him. Defendant- absolutely denied the allegation. In the course of her examination defendant admitted that she kept hotisa for the testator, and that during his lifetime he had made her presents of amounts totalling between £8000 and £9000. She alleged that the change in the testator's will was brought about through his hearing of tho plaintiff's domestic relations. The jury, by 11 to 1, found for defendant. 'Judgment was thereforo entered for her, with cosis £13S 45., together with disbursements and witnesses' expenses, to be fixed by the Registrar. ■ . ]