"MAIL" LIBEL CASE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 445, 1 October 1877, Page 2

"MAIL" LIBEL CASE.

(from our own correspondent.) * Dunedin, October 1. The Judge's charge to the Grand Jury was brief. It was nearly wholly occupied by the libel case against Sir. J< nes. After defining the law of libel, the learned Judge said at this time of day the principle that the public acts of a public man were liable to lie criticised with the utmost severity, and that the critic could go scot free, was fully established. He recognised it as lesser evil that pain should occasionally be inflicted on individuals than that the free discussion of public affairs should be jeopardised. The growth of a sound cultivated public opinion would prove a far more efficacious weapon than the law would in putting down coarse, exaggerated abuse. Although a public man was liable to be attacked for his public actions, he had a right to the protection of the law if charges were made against him that affected not only his character as a statesman, but as a man. Therefore, the jury would have to consider the libel from this point of view : d oes it charge the prosecutor with conduct of which an upright, honourable man should be ashamed"* Would the matter charged, if true, affect not only his political reputation, but his personal character, in the estimation of good men of all parties ? If it appeared to do this, they would find a true bill.