THE ‘GUARDIAN’ CONTEMPT CASE.

Evening Star, Issue 3615, 23 September 1874, Page 3

THE ‘GUARDIAN’ CONTEMPT CASE.

Mr Justice Chapman to-day gave jiulgment herein. He said if the article complained of had ended with its primary object of advocating the expediency of preserving the inviolability of the telegraph, there would have been no occasion for the rule; but it went beyond that. Its general tone was studiously subdued, but that tone was condemnatory of p'aintiff a proceedings ; therefore, in his opinion it had the tendency imputed to it, though not so strong as to evince a depraved intention. If he had thought tbia case came within the more gross and reprehensible class he would probably have considered a fine as the proper mode of dealing with it. But as he did not so consider it, though it was not excusable, he decided that the usual consequence as to costs would be a sufficient vindication of the law, and “ above all a sufficient warning that the Court will not sanction any writing put forward, pending an action, which kfleets, however cautiously, upon the proceedings of the parties to an action or cf their solicitor orcounse 1 .” Rule made absolute with costs