LIBEL ACTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 53, 11 June 1910, Page 5

LIBEL ACTION.

VERDICT FOR A NEWSPAPER.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerstoa North, Last Night,

The action in which Victor M. Bra and, of Wellington, claimed' £5Ol damages against E. D. Hoben. proprietor and editor of the Manawatn Tines, for alleged libel, concluded to-day. Tin. action arose out of a paragraph published the morning following the three sensational fires which heralded in the Powelka scare, which, stated: "An individual claiming to be an assessor had interfered with tine work of the brigade in the course of its duties."

Plaintiff brought much evidence, and after his case was heard, defendant's counsel said he would call witnesses'. His Honor reserved the point as to whether the article was capable of a defamatory meaning, a point on which he expressed considerable doubt, and put five issues to the jury, tlte first two being as to wihether the plaintiff had interfered with the brigade, to which the jury returned "No." The answer to the other issues, to which affirmative answer was given, were to the effect that the report in the Times was a matter of .public interest and was made bona fide and without malice, in p bona fide belief that it was true, and that it was fair comment. Judgment was accordingly given for defendant, with costs on the highest scale.

His Honor stilted that nothing had transpired in the evidence which justified the insurance companies losing confidence in Braund as an assessor.