Curious Libel Action.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 134, 6 May 1884, Page 2

Curious Libel Action.

Judgement was given m the Queen's Bench Divisiou on Saturday m the case of The Queen (on the application of the Duke of Vallambrosa) v. Lnhnuchere, which had come before, the Court as an application by tho Duke of Vallambrosa for a criminal action for libel against the defendant, Mr Henry LaWouchere, M.P., published m 'Truth,' of which journal he is the proprietor and publisher. The article complained of as libellous commenced by saying that. ' Society at Cannes, headed by the Duke of Vallambrosa, has been very indignant with Lord Wolverton for introducing M. Clemenceau to Mr Gladstone,' and went on to state— • The Duke of Vallambrosa is of course plus rot/aliste gui roi, his father having been an army contractor, who was nearly hanged on the charge of supplying as meat to a French army corps the flesh of soldiers who had died m the hospital or who had been killed m action. Luckily for him, the First Empire came to an end before the trial conld take place, and the contractor having retired to Italy and purchased a dukedom, became a Grand Signeur and an ardent adherent of the Bourbons.' It was alleged by the Duke that this was false and malicious ■statement, libellous m itself on the memory of his father, and calculated to bring himself and his family into public hatred, ridicule, and contempt. Lord Coleridge said there was no precedent on which an action could be maintained for a libel on a deceased person. Judgment was given for tho defendant accordingly.