A STRANCE CASE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 287, 2 December 1914, Page 3

A STRANCE CASE.

BACKSTAIRS JUSTICE.

[By Eleothto Telegraph—Copyright] United Press 'Association. Sydney, December 1. In the libel action brought by Hon. Hall against the Worker, the jur\ awarded Mr Hall £SOO damages. A stay of proceedings was granted. According to the statement of the case by the plaintiff's counsel Le Strange. the man against whom Mr Hall had declined to file a bill as organiser oi the Australian Workers' Union, allegedly gave certain advice to workers in connection with the rural workers' strike, for which the Union called him to account. The outcome of this was that Le Strange made a statutory declaration, and on the strength of this declaration was committed for trial. When it came to a question of filing a bill against Le Strange, Mr Hall, being 'acquainted with him. left the matter entirely in the hands of Judge Bevan, who advised that it was uselesr to fde a bill and Mr Hall acted on hi.* advice. Prior to giving advice, Judg< Bevan obtained through the police tin declarations of a number of men sup porting Le Strange's case. The Worker, in an article referring to Judge Bevan's action in obtaining this evidence after a trial had beer held, asked: "How is it that L' Strange has been able to ascend thbackstairs of the Department of Jus tice, place his version before the At torney-General, and induce him to withhold action?" The Judge, summing up, said n< thought Mr Hall had made a m.stale in not determining Le Strange s cas himself. Referring to Judge Bevan . action in obtaining evidence outsicl. the witness-box, he said that it thu practice existed it was the most repre hensible he had ever heard, ot.