LIBEL AT PALMERSTON.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 17 November 1880, Page 2

LIBEL AT PALMERSTON.

(from our own correspondent). PajMEBSTON, November 16. The usual quiet of our little town has heen rudely disturbed by a no less stirriug inoident than a libel case. This came on at the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day, when 'I homas Lawson, who is connected with the Palmerston Times, was charged with libelling Mr. William Robertson, a saddler, and member of the Borough Council. Mr. 3?rs?ey appeared for the prosecut\op, and Mr. Catamore for the defence, The alleged libel was contained in a letter signed "Zetus," published in the Otago Daily Times some time since, and reflecting very severely on the action of Messrs. Arkle, Haynes* and Robertson in their attempts to. stay what they deemed a disastrous, aud expensive proceeding on ths part of- our Borough Council. li} evidence, it was shown that the deffn,da,nt had wi-:,® the letter and afterwards indue, d youthful apprentice in the. office, tu attach his signature, being either of the production or fearful oS iho probable results. At the close of the evidence the Magistrate Qcramitfcea Laws.m for trial at the nest sitting of the Supreme Court, bail being allowed—accused in LSO, and two sureties of L 25. The accused meets with little sympathy here, as even those who might agree with many of his statements have no regard for a man who writes a scurrilous letter, and not only makes it anonymous, but actually gets a boy to father it. Lawson CUfca but a sorry figure in the mattgy,