THE JONES LIBEL CASE.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1252, 12 March 1878, Page 3

THE JONES LIBEL CASE.

[By Telegeaph.] Dunedin, March 11, The libel case against George Jones came on to-day. Mr Haggitt appeared for the prosecution, and Messrs Bees and Hislop for defendant. Tho indictment set out that George Jones, of Oamaru, journalist, was indicted for that he unlawfully, wickedly, and maliciously, intending to injure, vilify, and prejudice one Frederick Whitaker, and to deprive him of his good name, fame, credit., and reputation, and to bring him into public contempt, scandal, infamy, and disgrace, on August" 13th, 1877, unlawfully, wickedly, and maliciously did write and publish and cause and procure to be written and published a false, scandalous, malicious, and defamatory libel, containing divers false, scandalous, malicious, and defamatory matters and things of and concerning the said Frederick Whitaker, who on the day and year aforesaid held and filled the office of Attorney-General for the colony of New Zealand, and of and concerning his connection with a certain Bill, then already prepared and intended to be introduced by the said Frederick Whitaker in the House of Representatives of the said colony of New Zealand, intituled an Act to amend and consolidate the law relating to the Native Lund Court, the said libel being in the words and figures following, that is to say ; [Here follows the alleged libel.] The said George Jones knowing the said defamatory libel to be false, to the great damage, scandal, and disgrace of the said Fredk. Whitaker.

There wore two pjoas, the first of Hot Guilty, and the second pleading Justification, and alleging Mr Whitaker’s dealings as agent for himself and others in obtaining Native lands and Waste lands of the Crown by fraudulent means, to the injury of the public. An objection was raised to the plea by Mr Haggitt, who contended that it was no answer to the charge, and should npt be received. He entered a demurrer, and the whole afternoon was occupied ip arguing the point. At five o’clock his Honor reserved bis decision till morning.