SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 324, 10 June 1911, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

AN AUCKLAND ACTION. By Telegraph. —Press Association. Auckland, Thursday. His Honor Mr. Justice Edwards and a jury of four were occupied for a portion of yesterday afternoon with a libel action in which George S. Bullen, a member of the reporting staff of the New Zealand Herald, claimed £IOO damages from Jas. Regan, proprietor, editor and publisher of a weekly paper called "Saturday Night." Defendant had not filed a defence.

His Honor, in summing up, said it was a serious matter to libel a man in his reputation. The consequences might not be apparent at the time, but if such statements were made about a reporter they might turn up again. The jury had been told that the apology made was sufficient, but the defendant, after calling the plaintiff a lot of bad names, only expressed regret for having used his name as lie did. The jury could give the plaintiff all lie asked, which was not much in an action such as that was, so they could give him the smallest coin in the realm, but contemptuous damage should not be given. The jury returned a verdict for plaintiff for tlie full amount claimed, with costs.