DESCRIBED AS DEAD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 179, 30 June 1937, Page 9

DESCRIBED AS DEAD.

PAINTER’S LIBEL ACTION. The distinguished French painter. Maurice Utrillo, is bringing an action for libel against the director of the Tate Gallery, London, and . others on the ground of the publication in a catalogue of the statement that he was a confirmed dipsomaniac, and sold, many of his pictures for the price of a drink. The catalogue also states that he was almost continually under supervision from 1919 until lie died in 1934.

'liie matter came before the Court of Appeal when counsel for Utrillo sought to have particulars struck out or amended on the ground that they prejudiced the fair trial of the action. Lord Justice Greer: If he is dead he cannot,proceed with the action. Counsel: He is alive. Lord Justice Greer: Is it a libel to say of anyone that lie is dead? Counsel: No. but it is a libel to say of anyone, particularly one of the most eminent of living French painters, that he drank himself to death Lord Justice Greer, in giving judgment. held that the particulars were relevant to the contention that Utrillo became a confirmed dipsomaniac. Jl Utrillo attached importance to the statement that he drank himself to death, although lie was actually alive, the matter could be argued at the trial. He, therefore, refused to strike out the particulars.