HEAVY DAMAGES FOR LIBEL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 309, 24 May 1911, Page 8

HEAVY DAMAGES FOR LIBEL

REV. ISITT AWARDED £SOO. By Telegraph—Press Association. ChrisU'lmreh, Last Night. * At the Supreme Court to-day, Leonard Monk Isitt claimed £IOOO from James Mawson Stewart for alleged libel. The statement of claim set out that the name of the plaintiff had been falsely and maliciously inserted in a list published on January 5, 1911, by defendant as secretary of the committee of the Traders' Mutual Protection Association, in which were the names of people to whom it was not advisable to give credit, and who could not or would not pay their just debts. Defendant admitted the publication of plaintiff's name in the list, but denied that the insertion was falsely or maliciously made. Plaintiff, it was stated, at the time owed a sum of money to Mr. W. R. Cook, Chemist, who gave the name to defendant for insertion In the list. It was also pleaded in defence that the list was privileged, in that it was for circulation among members of the Association only. The jury awarded plaintiff £SOO, but law points were reserved.