SLANDER ALLEGED

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1933, Page 5

SLANDER ALLEGED

WELLINGTON CASE OPPROBRIOUS TERMS IN'“COURT. (Her Press Association Copyright,) WELLINGTON, June 16. - During , the hearing on Thursday afteruoon uf the claim for. alleged sianded by Reginald .Charles liodme against James Dickson Sievright the plaintiff ijocldie complained that he had been under great mental stress during the hearing. He alleged that Mr A. B. oievwright, who with Mr O’Leary was appearing, for the defendant had been sitting behind, him, passing derogatory remants about him, under his breath. Judge Ostler.granted the defendant an adjournment, advising plaintiff to pull himself together by next day.. When the Court resumed to-day His Honor said, “.With regard to the. incident that occurred, yesterday ; it is hardly necessary Tor nie to point out that for a barrister, during hearing of a case in this Court, to use opprobrious terms to either;, the opposing counsel, or the opposing tparty, is .abuse of his . privilege and. is a grave misdemeanour and contempt of Court r .which I couM have both power and will to punish. Mr Sievwright saw'me after-tip Court adjourned last night, in company with Mr Evans Scott, yand /complained.-.that-he had - tiot addressed yhis xejiihrks., to the plaintifi. huf; to ..his leadpT. .-T-MiuM accept the explanation, but it hoped such an incident will nof/ occur . again. Counsel should be able coiffer so that if they are using abusive or derogatory terms of the opposing counsel or party,,.-their conversation, cannot'be overheard. -. V ‘ A/ • Further evidence in rebuttal, was brought by • the plaintiff; He said the formula that -.was being manufactured by, the Nados Company in Christchurcii was different from the one he gave to- the Wellington syndicate. He alleged that after he met defendant anti . told him something about the formula, the defendant said); “Shroud it in' mystery, my boykeep,. it under your hat. Don’t say anything about the formula. - If you -let .me .in. for a halfshape for £SO, L will put it into a company for £4OOO. There 'ai ; e lots ‘ of- fools in’; Wellington who will put the .-money, into it, because I am in it-. ” -’ r • • y. - . The witness said he told Sievwright he; had already disposed of a’, sixth share ,of the business A>-