WELLINGTON ZOO LIBEL CASE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 March 1910, Page 3

WELLINGTON ZOO LIBEL CASE.

JOHN NORTON CAST IX Cl(l(!() DAMAGES. In the zoo libel case, of A. E. L. I'ertling against New Zealand Truth, a claim for £2000 damages, hearing was completed in Wellington last evening. The Chief Justice, after summing up the evidence, said that if the jury awarded only nominal damages, it would be nn indiciitio.il that the action should not have been brought. The jury had to remember that the statements had been published in a newspaper, that the defendant had come, to the court and still said that they were true, a.nd that, by doing so, he practically charged P'.rtling with perjury. The jury, after n;i absence of one hour, returned to court with a verdict for CIDOO damages, and added a rider as follows: "The jury desire to add that in their opinion the evidence has not only failed to establish the charges against the plaintiff, but has fully proved his competency for the post he holds." Mr Wilford, counsel for John Nortoin, asked for a stay of exei'iilion for four days to give defendant lv.iwer to move for a new trial, on tho ground of misdirection by his ilOUOIII". Flis Honour «aid Mmt there was no objection to that. The four days' stay would be granted.