ALLEGED LIBEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22139, 19 June 1935, Page 11

ALLEGED LIBEL

DAMAGES FOR AUTHOR VERDICT IN SYDNEY CASE (Received June 18, 9.45 p.m.) SYDNEY. Jline 18 The jury in the case in which Clarence Vivian Crockett, journalist and author, claimed £IO.OOO damages from the Bulletin Newspaper Company for alleged libel returned a verdict to-day in favour of plaintiff and awarded him £IOOO damages. A stay of proceedings was granted. Mr. W. J. Curtis, K.C., counsel for the defence, commented severely upon the failure of plaintiff to go into the witness box to be questioned about some passages in the book, which lie cor.tended should be burnt because it was pornographic and obscene. Moreover, said counsel, the liberty of the press was seriously at stake, as plaintiff was asking the jury to stop criticism of authors' works.

; Plaintiff's novel, "Mezzo Morto," was trenchantly criticised in the Bulletin on October 10 under the heading: "Through Muddle to Half Death." •Plaintiff claimed that he had been he'd up to public contempt and that his, professional reputation had been Jjermanently damaged, lfis counsel, Mr. A. B. Piddington, K.C., said the action was of a far-reaching character and it would be necessary to deal with . certain aspects of literary criticism and litprature regarded as reputable. : The offending article was written for the Bulletin by Brian Penton, of the |ir Daily Telegraph staff.