SLANDER CASE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10695, 16 August 1912, Page 5

SLANDER CASE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Last Night,

In the Supremo Court to-day before Mr Justice Edwards, the jury awarded Thomas Hood, retail- fruiterer, £250 damages for slander! The defendants were Griffiths and Co., auctioneers and merchants, and John Braid, auctioneer for Griffiths and Co. The case arose out of a trouble that occurred at the fruit marts in November 24th, 1911, wheifeit was alleged that Braid, on behalf of his employers, made malicious statements regarding Hood. Hood was a bidder for. goods, and asked for the name of a bidder.'but told by Braid to mind his own business. He also told him ' that it was no use taking his bid, as j the chances were he would not clear his stuff. Hood was the founder of the Retail Fruiterers' Association, and Sir John Findlay. who conducted the case for the plaintiff, alleged that Braid's action was out of spite for Hood, on behalf of the wholesale fruiterers, who had formed a combination. The members alleged to belong to this combination are Griffiths and Co., Laery and Co., Thomas and Co., Thompson Bros., and Townsend and Paul.