LIBEL ACTION
MELBOURNE, August 25. In the libel action Swinburne v the Age, a claim for £5000 damages, the defendants have withdrawn from the <ja^e ' owing to certain conversations having ' occurred between a lawyer's clerk and a ; juryman. The judge decided, to go on with the case *ji the absence of defendants, holding that nothing had been shewn to make him dissatisfied with the jury's fitness to try the case. The jury awarded Mr Swinburne £3250 damages. Mr Justice Hodges, in summing up, said that if public men of high standing could, whether there was foundation for attacks or not, be spoken 1 of by a newspaper 1 as the plaintiff had been public life would 1 become unbearable, and out of it must go j eve.-yone who felt any eelf-respect. It must then be left to those of no character and no self-respect. At the same time it was equally important that the press should have free scope for criticism. August 27. The . Age , is, applying i»r a new ttial in the Swinburne libel action, in wMch the plaintiff was awarded damages to the amount of £3250. >
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Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 25
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188LIBEL ACTION Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 25
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