Alleged Slander.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1922, Page 4

Alleged Slander.

SPIRITUALISTS IN COURT. WELLINGTON", August 21. I The Supreme Court ws occupied to- , day in hearing a clalin by John Page, of tho Wellington' SJiinturilist Chiireh, | agiiilist Margafet Stables, for £5Ol drifiV- j ages for slander, allegedly spoken ail'd : pi Hi! is red by defciidalit in the words, i “the po]i(‘e hold a letter now that will send John Page to gaol.” I

Plaintiff maintained he' “had Lpcii brought into public scandal and hatred arid contempt'.” j Janies Toomatli, an officer of the Spiritualist mbve'iriciit, gave evidence as to the use of the words by defendant on A!ay sth, in conversation with . one A’ndertoii. a Sjri’fitualist ler-tiirer. Andertoii, crbss-cxamiiied, said lie was following tlie profession of a healer. He said that unfriendly tactics by Mrs Stables to Page bad been goirig off for ! some time. He believed lie lin'd said to Airs Stables that Page was one' of the best Spiritualists in the world, and that he would defend John Pago to the death.

His Honour said lie could not understand why plaintiff had not’ been called. Considerable argument took place 1/e----twoeiV counsel and the Court as to whether, in such cases, plaintiff’s evidence "as admissible. In the course of defendant’s evidence

she said that Sir Conan Doyle had denied that Page ever had been associated with him on the platform. Judgment.was given for defendant.