THE GRIBBLE LIBEL CASE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1621, 16 August 1887, Page 4

THE GRIBBLE LIBEL CASE.

Judgment has been given by Chief Justice Slone and Justice Slone, who sat as'«‘jury in the libel action brought by the Rev. J. B. Gribhle against ihe West Australian New-paper Company ; damages claimed at £IO,OOO. The libel complained of was contained io the words “ lying, canting* humbug,”; as applied to Ihe plaintiff in connection with his lectures delivered in Victoria and New South Wales, his statements appearing in the Melbourne Daily Telegraph and other newspapers, and his statements contained and • published in pamphlets, in all of which he made charges against the settlers of enslaving the aboriginal natives, cruelly treating them, assigning the native girls tc immoral purposes, selling the natives, ordering halfcasto children to be murdered by their mothers, etc. ; also charges agiiost the Government for conniving at these misdeeds. The defendants pleaded justification, and the judges agreed in giving a verdict for the defendants oc that plea. The Chief Justice said io all his experience lie had never seen a witnesa who so prevaricated ; who so suppressed truth, and who was so disingenuous as the plaintiff. Both judges spoke strongly regarding the plaintiff’s statements made: in the eastern colonies, and said that in (be circumstances the defendants, as public journalists, were justified in using the words o raplaineri of.