ACTION FOR SLANDER, UNKNOWN

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1412, 21 July 1881, Page 2

ACTION FOR SLANDER, UNKNOWN

At the Supreme Court Sittings, Auckland, on Tuesday, befoie Mr Justice Gillies and a common jury, the case of Crawford r. Johnson was hcaid. This w.is an action by a minor, Jane Crawford, of Hamilton, by her next fneuil (her f.ithei), Francis Crawford, against * harles Edward Johnson, a hotel-Leepei at Hamilton, for slander. Mr T. C. MacCoinnck apeeared for the plaintiff; Mr Liiiahley for tho defendant. — Mr MaeCormick, said the girl, who was the real plaintiff, was under <"wenty-one years of aye, and, on that account, had to hue by her next fiiend. The slanderous words set out in the declaration were that the defendant said *'Mr. i utnrniug told me that Jenny Crawford had left Mis. DawHon's beivice to go home and have a miscarriage. >% It was sec out in the declaration, and "\\ould be proved, that theie existed a contract of mairiago between the plaintiff and a young man named William Allen, dating from June last year, to be completed in May last. This would show the special damage, imd the jury would decide the amount the plaintiff should receive. The claim was for £100. The slanderous Avoids vere utteied to Captain Dawson, in whoso family the plaintiff had been picvumsly employeddsdomestic servant. — Jane Cia'wford deposed that >>he was 20 years of age. Remembered being in the employment of Captain and Mr-. Dawsoii, and recollected healing the slanderous -words spoken by Mr Johnson, which were wholly uutrue. Was engaged to be married to William Alien, but owing to that slander tho engagement was broken off. Bhe swoie positively that she never was in Allens bedroom with the door shut, and had not been jruilty of improper conduct with him. — Thomas Dawsou, examined by Mr M.icCorniick, deposed that he knew Jane Crawford and the defendant, who occupied the Royal Hotel at Hamilton, under Mr William Curnminsr. Had a conversation with the defendant. He said, " Have you heard that about Jenny Crawford ?' ' Witness snid " No, what is it ?" The defendant then sud that Mr dimming had told him thr.t " Jenny Crawford hid left the the private service of Captain Dawson's family to go home and have a miscarriage." Witness replied, " I don't believe it. The defendant replied, '•that Mr Cumming had told him." — — Francis Crawford, father of tho girl and nominal plaintiff, deposed that hearing the slander from his daughtei he went to defendant to speak to him about it. Defendant said "he did hear it from Mr Cumraing aud that when he got into the witness-box he would be able to clear himself." William Allen was present. The defendant baid on another occasion he would not for £-; i that he had mentioned i(, and ho offered an apology. Witness refused to accept the apology unless it was " put through the papers'" Remembered going with Mr Cumming to the Royal Hotel. Captain Dawson was there, and Johnson. Cumming said to Johnson "up to his face" that he (Cumming) had never said such a thing about witness's daughter. Johnson would not make the apology in the papers, and witness got legal advice so as to set hia daughter's character right. The defendant never made any complaint of the girl's conduct to the witness, or so far as witness knew, to her mother. — , William Allan, examined by Mr MacCormick, said he was engaged to be married to »lane Crawford in December last The marriage was fixed to, take j)lace in May last. The witness said he hired the billiard-room from Mr Johnson on the same terms that he had it from Captain Dawson, who had the Royal Hotel previously. Heard the statement about the plaintiff having had a miscarriage, and broke off the engagement with > the girl. Several other witnesses were examined at some length. His Honor in summing up left it to the jury to say whether the slander was a malicious libel or a privileged communication. The jury after three hoars returned to Court, and a verdict of three-fourtns was taken to the effect that the statement was made by the defendant falsply, but not maliciously. In effect the verdict was for defendant.

The first missionary of the Rusaian Church in Japan haa, been made Bishop of the mission. When Bishop Nicholas arrived recently he met with . a> warm welcome from the missionary i staff "and. members -of i the mission. The latter, address Jhim as , Ddi-aimpy, or Great Father! The mission haa Ijegn y*^ successful, 1