CRIMINAL LIBEL ACTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1921, Page 5

CRIMINAL LIBEL ACTION.

SENSATIONAL LONDON CASE. HORATIO BOTTOMLEY PLAINTIFF. By Telegraph.—r’ress Assn. —Copyright. Received Oct. 12, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 11. A sensational criminal libel suit has opened at Bow Street Court. Great crowds hooted and cheered Mr. Horatio Bottomley, proprietor of the newspaper John Bull, who is prosecuting Reuben Bigland for selling a libellous pamphlet broadcast in the streets of London, which alleged that, “the arch rogue Bottomley had become the possessor of nearly a million of money through his Victory Bond Club.” Sir Ernest Wild, K.C., on behalf of Bottomley, denied the statements in the pamphlet, and alleged that Bigland for five years had been attempting to extort money, culminating in Bigland forcibly entering Bottoinley’s flat at Kingston at seven o’clock in the morning and asking for £60,000. Sir Ernest Wild said the public had subscribed £450,000 to the Victory Bond Chib, of which £350,000 had been returned to the public after Victory Bonds fell from £B5 to £75. Of this Bottomley found £35,000 out of his own pocket in order to pay back the subscribers. Bottomley, in the witness box, supported counsel’s statements.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.