COURT NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1931, Page 5

COURT NEWS.

LIBEL CLAIM FAILS, (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 17. The hearing of the claim for £3400 damages for alleged libel and slander brought by Peroival George Allsop, building contractor and architect, against William Goodfellow, company manager, was concluded. Two couses of action were withdrawn from the jury last night, and. two more were ruled out this morning, leaving only that arising from a report in “The Dairy Farmer,” on which plaintiff based the claim for £3OOO.

Counsel for the defence called no evidence but fully reviewed the case in his address to the jury. He asserted that Goodfellow had met the plaintiff. at every turn and that the allegations made against Goodfellow had all fallen to the ground. The Judge said he would take the responsibility of holding that the report in “The Dairy Farmer” was privileged. The Court adjourned to enable counsel on both sides to discuss with his Honour what issues should be submitto the jury. The jury returned with a finding that trie words and figures complained of did not refer to plaintiff, and were hot defamatory to him.

Judgment was given for defendant, with costs.

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE

WELLINGTON, Nov, 18,

In the Miller attempted murder charge, the accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed in the sum of £3OO, and two sureties of £3OO each. GAMING FINE. WELLINGTON, Nov. 18. Edgar Prier, tobacconist, of Petone was fined £25 fop using his premises a$ a common gaming house. BETTING FINE. V RAWER A, Nov. 18. Thomas Henderson Teesdale, tea room proprietor, who has been previously fined £SO for a similar offence, was to-day fined £IOO by Mr. Salmon S.M., for carrying on business as a bookmakerFor assisting in the control of a common gaming house, William Elder was fined £2O. Samuel Pivac, restaraunt keeper, was fined £75 on a bookmaking charge. Tlie offences were admitted by the three named ; whose arrest resulted in a police raid on various premises in the town on November 11. A fourth man arrested, Chanel Cullaihe, barman, pleaded not guilty, and was remanded on charges of hookmaking in a hotel, and keeping a common gaming house.

Charles Frances Taylor and George William Brogden were each fined £2 for being found in gaming houses. Two other were remanded on similar charges.