£l00 AWARDED: ADDRESSES BY COUNSEL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10609, 7 June 1920, Page 6

£loo AWARDED: ADDRESSES BY COUNSEL

The libel action —Professor George William von Zedlitz v. the “New Zealand Times’' Co., Ltd.—was concluded at the 'Supremo Court on Saturday before His Honour Hr Justice Edwards, and a jury of twelve—Messrs Albert Christenson (foreman), William Stewart King, Erank Cot tell, Bertram Richard Greeks, James Sandford, Andrew McOutoheon, Joseph William Skinner, John Ireland, Herbert Henry Smith, Walter Sydney Brown, George Henry Coleman, and Owen George Tracey. Air O. P. Skorrett, K. 0., with, him Mr T. C. A. Hislop, appeared for the plaintiff; and Sic John Findlay,-K.0., with, him Mr W, Perry, for the defendant.

The statement of claim , set forth that “On tho 29th of July, 1919, the defendant falsely and maliciously printed and published in the ‘New Zealand Times’ a letter containing the following words of and concerning the plaintiff:— ‘ln 1914, the German alien, enemy i on the Victoria College staff was arrested for a breach of the War Regulations, and was released by one of our Ministers as a German alien enemy prisoner on parole, and, although such, was reinstated bv the council, which declined a proffered

resignation.’ ■‘The said words mean that the plaintiff had committed a breach of the War Regulations and been arrested therefor.

“On tile aforesaid 29th day of July, 1919, in the aforesaid letter the defendant printed and published m the ‘New Zealand Times’ of and concerning the) plaintiff the further words following;— ‘The munificent compensation for am alien enemy—declared to be a prisoner of war—for a' punishable offence against the realm, bv the Victoria College Council at the public expense, contrasts strangely with the conditions under which our soldiers are treated, after years of sendee, hard fighting, and suffering on ithcir discharge.’

.“The said words meant that the ilaintiS had committed an offence against the realm punishable by imprisonment and had been declared a prisoner of war for such offence.” “The plaintiff,” continued the statement of claim, “has suffered great damage by the allegations aforesaid. Wherefore the plaintiff claims damages £1000.” The statement of defence denied) the allegations in paragraph one of _ the statement of claim —“The plaintiff is a professor of languages residing in the City of Wellington under the protection of His Majesty the Kins . ;inu denied also the allegations set forth m the paragraphs above quoted. The evidence of the one witness. Professor von Zedlitz, had. been heard the day before; . and all that remained •was tbe addresses to the jury by the counsel on either side, the summing up of is Honour, and the consideration of their verdict by the jury.