THE WELLINGTON LIBEL SENSATION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 9016, 2 December 1907, Page 3

THE WELLINGTON LIBEL SENSATION.

The hearing of the charges of criminal libel preferred by W. .1. Pollock, ex-civil servant, against Arthur Beeson, a local preacher who accused plaintiff in the pulpit and in letters to his Departmental chief was continued in camera by Mr Justice Cooper and a jury at Wellington on Saturday. Mr Wilfoird appeared for prosecutor and Mr Gray for prisoner. In summing up, his Honor said it Was quite clear that unless the charges made by prisoner in his letters to Hcyes wore justified, defamatorv libel had been committed. The real point for the jury was:—Has prisoner substantiated his charges, and were the statements he made, in the interests of the public? Tlmy had nothing to do with motives. Neither had they anything to do with the religious affairs of prisoner. Thov had to consider whether regard‘should not be paid to the moral character of persons employed in a Government Department, especiallv where girls wore working. There was no doubt from the evidence that Pollock had led a most immoral life. From the letters he wrote, it was clear that ho was a perfect satyr. . After the jury had retired, his Honor made some general remarks on tho sins of society. Ho said there Wa> a terrible state of immorality in the community, especially in YVclliugtou. He was sometimes appalled by tho amount of immorality shown in our cities. Tho jury found Beeson guilty. Sentence was deferred pending argument in tlie Court of Appeal.