THE RECENT LIBEL CASE AT DUNEDIN.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 778, 18 February 1871, Page 2

THE RECENT LIBEL CASE AT DUNEDIN.

In a recent issue we stated that Mr Henry Driver, of Dunedin, had filed a criminal information for libel against Mr John Dick, printer. The following are the circumstances iu connection with the alleged libel, so far as are at present made public :

On Friday, February 10th, John Dick, printer, was charged, before the Resident Magistrate, with having falsely and maliciously printed and published a libel against Henry Driver. The libel consisted in a placard purporting to give a copy of a letter from the complainant to John Trewick, in which the relations between Mr Macaudrew and Mr Driver were placed in an unfavorable light. The case was adjourned for a week to enable the defendant to get up his case. On Saturday a declaration made by Mr Dick before the Magistrate was published, to the effect that the letter was received by his collector from Mr Macleod, Secretary to Donald Beid's Central Committee. The defendant also expressed regret that he should have unintentionally injured Mr Driver's character. Later in the day a statutory declaration.by defendant was posted in the city, stating that he did not receive the letter from the Chairman or any other member of Mr lieid's Committee, and that to the best of his belief none of the members of the Committee knew his' intention to publish it. Mr Driver telegraphed the following message to the Superintendent, who was at Oamaru :—"James Macandrew.—Sir —A. placard has been posted about the town, purporting to be a letter

from myself to Trewiclc, in which your name is freely used. It is a deliberate lie and forgery from beginning to end. I never wrote suoh a letter, and am bringing those concerned to justice. The parties will have to answer a criminal information on Friday first. It I am not mistaken, the proceedings will disc Jose a nest of conspirators, all of whom I will prosecute to the utmost extent of the law. As you are concerned, I can onlv say that if I had been villain enough to write such a letter I should have been a base liar. You can' make what use of this you may think proper.— (Signed) Heney Ehiyer." Pending the investigation, the public judgment is suspended on this matter, which causes considerable excitement.