Extraordinary Libel Case.

Feilding Star, Volume XIX, Issue 157, 31 December 1897, Page 3

Extraordinary Libel Case.

liy Tclcgtiiph — iVcss iXssorl r.t'.on — Copyright Sydney, December 2'J In the CarrnthersNorton libel nciion Mr Leary, Cheif Clerk of the Divorce Court, produced papers to show that Mr Camuhers (Minister of Lands) obtained a decree nisi of divorce from 1113 wife in August, 1895. He stated that the application was mado on Saturday inorniDg. No one was present excepting witness and t lie tipstaff. The case, at the suggestion of the plaintiff, was taken early in the morning before Mr Justice Wimleypr, and lasted less than half an hour. Witness admitted that tho tiino and proceedings were unusual, No report of the case appeared in the pres.*. Norton went into the box ani uitule a etateraent that he had had* public and personal knowledge of Mr Carruthers for ten years. 110 said ho had always regarded him as a tr.cky, dishonpst politician. The Premier was called is a wi'.npss in the Norton cuso. Counwl (or the plaintiO endcuvourt'd to elicit, inforiu.it ion reLrardinu Norton's .'-f.-iteniciit on the poiitieal relations lictwcvii ( '.;iTuthei-s and the l'ri'inior. Tlio .Iml'ie ruli'il llr.it- this was irrc.-lt'vanl, and the witness was not further exainiiK-.1. Docembci' 30. The proscril'cJ evidence of the woman who made the charges n^ainst Mr Carruthers has been jmWislieil. She charges the latter with ruining lier about ISS.j. Thn evidence called shows that t*io woman was in the habit of frequenting places of evil repute. Mr Carruthers totally denies ti\c charges. Ho admitted advancing tho woman JblO to enable her to purchase a smail business, but the act was purely ore of generosity. Since then she had endeavoured to blackmail him.