ALLEGED LIBEL AND SLANDER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10263, 15 June 1911, Page 5

ALLEGED LIBEL AND SLANDER.

NELSON, Last Night. In the Supreme Court, in the action Richardson v. Nelson Evening Mail, a, claim for £3OOO damages for libel, the jury returned a verdict for defendants. Plaintiff's counsel intiniaited has intention of moving to set the verdict aside. In the case of Effie N. Richardson, widow, v. C. J. Harley, solicitor, a claim for £3OOO for alleged .slander, which arose from same circumstances as an the former action, Mrs Richardson was the defendant in an. action brought by the Waimea County Council in the'S.M. Courtfor encroaching on the pttbl'■• road. Mr Harley' appeared for t? Council, and during the caise a Or©*, . grant of Mrs Richardson's .proper* was put in containing a plan. I Harley inspected the exhibit, a:■■;. made a remark to the effect,that a had been altered since he had last seen it, the reply suggesting that plaintiff in tJie present action had tampered with the document. The registrar of the deed, at tiie> Magistrate's request, compared tihe grant with the copy in his possession, and pronounced that no alteration had been made. The Magistrate thereupon said the statement should be withdrawn., which,' 'however, Mr Harley did not do, and Mi's Richardson proceeded for Islander. Mr Jelliooe appeared for plaintiff, and Mr Maginnity foi- defendant. Wihen the plaintiff's case was closed Mr Maginnity moved .for a. nonsuit on the ground's tha.t a solicitor was protected by privilege in the statements made in the course of an action. Alter hearing lengthy argument, His Honour upheld the contention, and nonsuited the plaintiff, with costs.