SINGULAR CLERICAL LIBEL SUIT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1080, 30 May 1882, Page 4

SINGULAR CLERICAL LIBEL SUIT.

At the Chester Assizes, on Monday, Mr Justice Lindley am! a jury were engaged for the greater part of the 'day in trying an action in which the Rev. J. Thomas, curate of Rhyl, claimed damages from Mrs Maria Power, a widow of independent means, for slander. It appears that Sept ember last plaintiff met Mrs Power’s daughter aged 15, in company with a sailor, the son of a local innkeeper a id, regarding the disparity in their position, he mentioned the matter to the rector of Rhyl, who, in turn told Mrs Power. Mrs and Miss Power absented themselves from the church, and subsequently, in the course oi conversation with a lady member 0; the congregation, Mrs Power ventured to “ hope that the new curate would be more satisfactory than Mr Thomas as he did nothing but tell lies.” The result was that Mr Thomas’s character and reputation had suffered. Mr Higgins, in defence, submitted that on the 2nd of September, the day spicified, Miss Power was not walking out with the sailor boy ; and secondly that no slander had" been uttered. Speaking of the plaintiff’s conduct, be said there appeared to be altogther a refinement of clerical duty in the parish of Rhyl, which had reached its highest pitch when the curate considered it necessary to guard over the welfare of his people to such an extent as to try to prevent a person of one social position conversing with a person of another. Evidence for the defence having been called, the jury retired, and after a brief absence returned into the court with a verdict for the plaintiff. At his Lordship suggestion, however, they retired again in order to consider what damages they should assess, and on returning awarded plaintiff the nominal damages of one shilling.