SPEIGHT V. "AGE."

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 2, 3 January 1894, Page 5

SPEIGHT V. "AGE."

A COSTLY ACTION,

Melbourne, this day. Mr Parvis, the principal counsel retained by tbe " Age " in the libel action, received 150 guineas as a retainer fee, and thirty guineas per day. Mr Deal-in received 250 guineas as a retainer fee, and fifteen guineas a day. Mr Duffy, Mr Speight's leading lawyer, was paid a 400 guineas fee, and twenty guineas per day. Mr Colhatn received 3CO guineas, and fifteen guineas per day. Ninety-six witnesses were examined, and over ono thousand exhibits put in attrial. If the case as reported in the " Age," were published in book form, it would make a volume of a thousand pagoe. Tho verdict in the Speight case was not entered up, as the legal effect of the jury's finding will be argued next month. Melbourne, January 2. In the Speight-" Age " libel action, tho jury returned a verdict on one count out of eleven, and declured they were unable to answer the other counts. They gavo a verdict to tho plaintiff on tho eighth count, which refers to tho " Age'a " comments alleging gross extravagance, and assessed the damages at £100. The question of costs waß reserved. The solicitor for the plaintiff when interviewed said Mr Speight regarded the verdict as morely £100 on account, as it was intended to take fresh action on the other alleged libels.