ALLEGED CRIMINAL LIBEL.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 896, 20 May 1903, Page 2

ALLEGED CRIMINAL LIBEL.

Per Press Association Christchurch, last night. The trial of Wilfred Badger for a criminal libel against Henry Slater, solicitor, was continued this morning. Tho case for the prosecution is closed. Mr Jeliicoe, for tho defence, submitted a nuinoer of

technical points, also reasons why there was no case for the jury. The Judge reserved the point whctHer the Magistrate’s order was sufficient, and only noted the others. No evidence was called for the defence. Mr Jeliicoe is addressing the jury at considerable length. GUILTY ON ONE COUNT.

Later.—At the conclusion of an address which lasted nearly two hours and a-hulf, in the Badger libel case, Mr Jeliicoe sa.d that the judges had at one time been successful advocates, and he would ask jurors to remember that the leopard could not change his spots. Ills Honor, addressing the jury, said he had been a judge for ud years, and had not been a successful advocate before. He stated that the case seemed to have arisen from an unfortunate misconception on tbe part of Badger, yet a Jot of rubbish hud been spoken about proceedings or forged warrant. There was absolutely no evidence that Slater had been guilty P ro " fessional misconduct. It really seemed unfortunate that Badger had taken such a wrong-headed view oi the matter from the start, and that he had made no apo.ogy or explanation. Mr Jeliicoe asked His Honor to reservo for the Court of Appeal that part of the direction to the jury wmch involved law, namely that there was no justification on the grounds of privilege, or on the grounds I that° Slater was a public man, and that there was no evidence in support of the plea of justification. His Honor said tnat he would reserve the points. ...... The jury returned a verdict in tne first count oi defamatory libel in a letter, end not guilty on the other two counts, alk-g----ipa certain meanings on primed extracts. ' Sentence will be reserved until tho points reserved have been decided. Defendant was admitted to bail, in one surety of £'loo, to surrender himself at the first sitting of the Court in Christchurch for criminal business, after decision by the Court of Appeal on the question reserved, or at such othc-r time as the Court of Appeal might order.