DAMAGES FOR LIBEL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1921, Page 5

DAMAGES FOR LIBEL.

TWO SYRIANS SUCCEED. By Telegraph—Press Associate. Auckland, Last Night A sequel to a case heard at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, in which Henry James Hansen was found guilty of forging a letter defaming two Syrian residents of Wark worth, was a libel action against Hansen heard before Mr. Justice Herdman. Peter and George Agzy. tailor and bootmaker respectively, eech claimed £lOOO from Hansen as damages in respect of alleged libellous statements contained in the letter referred to. The case for claimants was that 15 typed copies of the letter had been circulated in Warkworth. The allegations contained therein were to the effect that “two Turks” were “luring young girls into their dens,” and were behaving indecently towards them. Counsel said the plaintiffs were the only persons in the district to whom the letters could refer, and police investigation had proved the excellence of their reputations. The jury awarded £250 damages to> each plaintiff. Judgment was suspended to allow counsel for the defendant to argue a non-suit point regarding the question of the publication of the letters.