THE WELLINGTON PRESS LIBEL CASE. VERDICT FOR THE PLAINTIFF. [BY TELEGRAPH.-PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dunedin, Saturday.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2141, 30 March 1886, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON PRESS LIBEL CASE. VERDICT FOR THE PLAINTIFF. [BY TELEGRAPH.-PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dunedin, Saturday.

The ca»o .Stewart v. Ro\ "i m-e and another, .vrm renewed. Dr Ned mil uas exuuined. The Attorney << utici.il and Mi Stringer, then addres>ed the juiy. Hii Honour, in suiniuinpr up, said that if a person published intentionally matter detain.Uory of .mother, ho published a. libel and ho publi-.hud it mili-cidti-Iy if he published it without ju«t r,ui>e or excuse. The .uttcle, w.is heyond doubt defamatory of tli>' i>l.iintiff, and unless there, was ju-t c.vise f<ir its publication tlio plaintiff wis entitled to a verdict. The writer apparently accepted l)i Nedw ill's st it'inent us g>>pel. and undo but sligiit .id'liU'iu.il inquiii^s In his opinion a. jouni ilnt had no pnvile^e .over tb»reat.of his fello\v-citi/«»g, juid it could not be said that any pcr<nn raav miy or write (»f ony-itnj eUa an\ thing hehonestly bi*Re\ed to be true without*being liable for the conai-quenciN. The m»it important function of the jn^rnalistwh""* itnto expose .ibiiseH; but if bo departed from ci itici-'in, and formulated specific charged ap:iiii>t anyone, then he w.is liable, unless either he could show that the charges were true or that it was an honest, and reasonable inference from the conduct of-the person charged'that, the charges might be tiue. The jury was unable to agree, and after the expiration of three hours Mis Honour accepted the vet diet of three-fourths* The jnry answered all the issues in favour of the plaintiff, viz.. that it was libel; that it was not justifiable by reason of truth or fair comment. Damages, one shilling. They recommended a rigid enquiry by the Go. vernrnent into the Christclmrcb Hospital management. The question, of costs is t<> stand over.