"Wholly Unfounded!"

NZ Truth, Issue 1197, 8 November 1928, Page 1

"Wholly Unfounded! "

I'BeckettY' Apologises To Mr. Ezra Norton

£10,000 LIBEL CLAIM

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Sydney s Rep.) The claim for £10^000 damages, for alleged libel, by Mr. Ezra Norton, chairman of directors of 'Truth'" and "Sportsman," Ltd., and a son of the late Mr. John , Norton, newspaper proprietor, against Beckett's Newspapers, Ltd;, •'""and others, was settled m the ' Banco Court, before Mr. Justice Campbell, last week. THE libels' cbmplained of were conA tamed m the defendant newspaper m February and March of this year and were directed to "Ezra .Norton, Esq., managing director of 'Truth." tylr. Shand, K.C., announced that the, action had been settled. "This is an. action brought by Mr. Ezra Norton for libel against 'Beckett's Budget'," he said.

"The articles aiipe'ared-.in February and March of, this year. Settlement has now been arrived at, and the defendant newspaper has agreed 'to publicly apologise .to Mr. Norton, and that such apology be published m the public press. The articles were signed by J. H. 'C. Sleeman, and he has signed the apology" to Mr. Norton.": ' "Unreservedly Withdraw" Mr. Justice Campbell: Are there any other terms? . Mr. Shand: No, your honor. The apology by "Beckett's" to Mr. Norton was then ' read > out 'by. Mr. Shand, as follows: "Referring 1 to the} articles appearing m 'Beckett's Budget' on February 17 and March 9, .1928, w,e hereby unreservedly withdraw, all charges or suggestions made therein against, the character 'of plaintiff (Ezra Norton). '• i "We admit that such are wholly un-' founded, and we publicly apologise to Mr. Norton for having .published the same, and' agree to p.ay all costs incurred' by Mr. Norton m bringing an action m the Supreme Court for the purpose of vindicating, his character," : The terms of l settlement were then filed m court and the case Struck out of the list.

Mr. A. B. Shand, K.C., Mr. W. J. Curtis, K.C., and Mr. W. J. Victor Windeyer (instructed by Messrs. W. A. Windeyer, Fawl and Co;), appeared for Mr, Norton;,: Mr. A'. R. J. Watt, K.C., and Mr. J. Cassidy (instructed by 'Messrs'.; R. C. Cathels and Jones) for the defendant newspaper, and Mr. W. Af'Holman, K.C., and Mr. j. W. Shand (instructed by Messrs. R. ! C. Cathels and Jones) i for the printers and publishers of ("Beckett's."