WAIKATO LIBEL CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 143, 19 June 1899, Page 4

WAIKATO LIBEL CASE.

VERDICT FOR DEFENDANT.- .j

About eight o'clock on Saturday evening the-jury in the case of alleged libel, Spragg v. Edgecumbe, at the Supreme Court, returned a verdict for. the defendant. In this case Wesley Spragg, of Auckland, butter manufacturer, sued George Edgecumbe, of Hamilton, newspaper proprietor, for £200 damages for an alleged libellous letter which appeared in defendant's paper, the Waikato "Argus." Mr Theo. Cooper appeared with Mr A. Hanna for the plaintiff, and Mr Hugh Campbell, instructed by Mr Swarbrick, for the defendant.

His Honor, after entering up judgment for defendant, allowed costs on the lowest scale. Plaintiff's counsel gave notice to move for a new trial, on the ground that the verdict of the jxiry was not in accordance with the evidence.

During the latter part of the case only three out of the four special jurors sat, the fourth one not appearing after the luncheon adjournment on Saturday. Counsel on both sides, however, agreed to go on witn the three j\irors. This morning■■■the missing juryman appeared before'the Court, and explained that he thought the case was adjourned till to-day, that being the reason of his absence on Saturday afternoon.