Bell v. Jellicoe.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3301, 5 September 1889, Page 2

Bell v. Jellicoe.

Wellington', Thursday. Tho libel action, Bell v. Jollicoo, claim for £SOOO damages, began before Judge Richmond and a special jury this morning. The Court was cvowod. Tho alleged libol was an allegation by Mr Jellicoe in an interview at the Terrace Gaol betweeu him and the convict flhenjis, that lie had a mass of evidence iu tho prisoners' favor, a large portion qf which liad been kept back by the prosecution. This interview wis reported by the IGovornmeut shorthand reporter and Mr Jellicoe afterwards gavo the press access to his notes.

In defence it was pleaded that the wovdt' did not bear the construction imputed to then), and if they did reflect on Mr 801 l justification was pleaded. . Sir Robert Stout and Mr Edwards appear for Mr Bell; Mr Jellicoe conducts his own defence.

Sir R. Stout made a brief address, j pointiug out the gravity of the accuijatj.qi) against a njan in the position of Crown t|jat he had kept back evidence which might cause a man boing deprived of his life, and asked for exemplary damages. 0, J. Haseldon, Under-Secretary of Justice, deposed that Mr J ellicoo hid iftljfluyted the prosecution of Waring Taylor, jtmi |sd been paid by the Crown, In auswer'to Mi' it appeared ibe'Goyornmtiiit diti afc'piio tiino' seek to have the ea'so conducted, by the Crown Solicitor, but Mi Arundel, who was prosecutor, insisted'on Ifa.yiijgjt done by Mr Jellicoe. ' ' " 1 The rest of the evidence so far has been that of newspaper editors and reporters, who proved the publication. Mr. Jelljeoe's cross-examination is directed to showing that he did not ask them to publish anything, and tho matter was entirely at their own discretwu,'