“LET HIS TONGUE RUN”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 305, 16 March 1928, Page 16

“LET HIS TONGUE RUN”

DAMAGES FOR SLANDER COUNCILLOR AWARDED £2O A sequel to the civic inquiry held last year, was a slander case heard at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Michael Joseph Coyle, a member of the Auckland City Council, was awarded £2O damages. The defendant was James Edgar, of Point Chevalier, against whom plaintiff proceeded on two causes, claiming £SO damages on each. The statement of claim alleged that Edgar, while travelling in a bus, said of Coyle, in the hearing of other passengers: “He is a rogue. He has robbed stone from the City Council, not only for himself, but for others at Point Chevalier.” Mr. F. D. McLiver said that the defence would be a denial of the use of the words. Mr. Terry, who represented the plaintiff, said that a City Council employee on the last evening of the civic inquiry made a statement to the effect that Mr. Coyle had received stone from the City Council, but the inquiry concluded at that stage. Evidence was given by Mr. 11. A. Somerville, secretary of the Auckland Hospital Board, and Thomas Eli Cleal, both of whom said that Edgar had made unqualified statements against Coyle. Defendant, In evidence, denied that he had said Coyle stole the stone. He had, however, criticised Coyle’s manner of serving the needs of the district. The magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt, said that defendant had let his tongue run away with him. Plaintiff had suffered no great harm, but the making of such statements was a dangerous habit. Judgment would be for £lO on each count.