THE IRISH PARTY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8766, 18 March 1907, Page 2

THE IRISH PARTY.

A Libel Case

Frass Association. —Copyright. London, March 16,

Mr William O'Brien sued Freeman's Journal at the Limerick Assizes for £SOOO damages for libel in six published statements allegiug, inter alia, that he had conspired with Lord Dunraven, Mr Wyndham, and Sir Antony Macdonald, to destroy the Irish Party, create a Moderate Unionist Centre Party, and sell or Nationalist seats. Mr Justice Johnson, in.charging the jury, incidentally remarked that the unmasked conspirator in the case appeared to be Mr Dillon. The jury found that the Glenroe letter and certain speeches made by Messrs Dillon and Redmond were libels, and that various comments were unfair and published with malice.

Mr Justice Johnson directed that damages must not be contemptuous. The jury awarded -a farthing in each case of the six libels. Plaintiff's counsel moves to set the verdict aside.