FACTS IN A LIBEL CASE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 19, 14 May 1914, Page 5

FACTS IN A LIBEL CASE.

A MATTER OF ILLEGITIMACY. [Per Press Association.] „ Auckland, May 13. A libel case with unusual features was heard in the Supreme Court tolay, and a verdict for plaintiff of £125 lamages was given this evening. Many years ago, in London, a man lamed Armstrong met a Miss Barber, and they lived together as Mr and Mrs Barber. Only when the first child was horn did the woman discover that Armstrong was already married. Other children were born subsequently, but the illegitimacy of their birth avas carefully hidden from the family. When the eldest boy, Robert, avas 18 years dd, a brother of Miss Barber, avhose name was also Robert Barber, who had settled in Auckland, offered to take the boy under his protection. Robert, junior, avorked for his uncle for aorae time, and then, objecting to the small avages he received, quarrelled with him, and started business on his iavn account.

After a recent court case, in which the catering of Robert Barber junior was criticised, Robert Barber, the un'■le, inserted the following notice in an Auckland paper: “I, Robert Barber, \aterer, of Karangahapo Road, am in no way connected with the name of Tobert Barber, caterer, of Buchanan’s cafe.”

Thereupon young Barber had to ©xolain to his principal clients, his friends, and his brothers and sisters (who had recently come to Auckland with their mother) tho shame of his ind their birth. The act of the uncle, t was claimed, was deliberate and nalicious. Young Barber was entitled to that name, as illegitimate children dways took the name of their mother. The jury found for the plaintiff as ■stated.