HOBBS'S LIBEL ACTION

Evening Star, Issue 20052, 18 December 1928, Page 7

HOBBS'S LIBEL ACTION

.LEAVE TO APPEAL GRANTED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, December 17. (Received December 18, at Ip.m.) Mr Justice Scrutton has granted Hobbs leave to appeal against Lord Hewart’s refusal to adjourn the Nottingbam libel case. Ho intimated that it could have been taken with the hearing of the appeals against the ‘ Liverpool Express’ and the ‘Nottingham Journal f verdicts.—Australian Press Association. v [When the libel case William Cooper Hobbs versus the ‘Nottingham Journal ’ was called' on Serjeant Sullivan, for the plaintiff, applied for an adjournment until next session, on the grounds that the publication of the previous day’s proceedings might leave a hostile opinion in the jurors’ minds. Lord Hewart refused the request and also leave to appeal, whereupon Serjeant Sullivan gathered his papers and, accompanied by Hobbs, left the court. Lord Hewart remarked that it looked like part of a transparent manoeuvre. The jury, on Lord Hewart’s direction, gave a verdict for the defendants, with costs, Hobbs later appeared in the Appeal Court and sougnt leave to appeal against Lord Hewart’s refusal to grant an adjournment. He said that he made the application formally with the idea of adjourning the action till he could submit the whole matter. Mr Justice Scrutton granted an adjournment till December 17, when Hobbs could reney, the application,} • •