LIEUTENANT GRIERSON.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 208, 31 August 1918, Page 4

LIEUTENANT GRIERSON.

AIXEGED LIBEL BY DR, THACKER. WRIT POX £5000 DAMAGES. (By Telegraph—Special to "SUx.") WELLINGTON, Friday. A writ claiming £5000 damages for alleged libel, has been issued on behalf of Lieutenant Grierson against Dr. Thacker, member for Chrietchureh East, ac a result of a statement alleged to have been made during the Wellington North byelection, ■when Dr. Thacker took a most active part in the campaign of Mr. PolBon, an Independent Liberal

It is alleged in the statement of claim that on February 27, at a public meeting, Dr. Thacfcer declared that he and others had suspicions about Grierson, that the? had his boxes opened, and, he alleged, found evidence that Griereon was an arrant German spy. It is also alleged that Dr. Thacker made the following untrue reflection on plaintiff: "Sir Jama* Allen told us he was an elegant English gentleman, coming from a family of 400 years' standing, but he had no sooner got to the front than he vent over to the enemy."

The Grierann case, it wae caQed, aroused great public interest two yeinl ago. A public inquiry into allegations agauet him resulted in clearing him of any suggestion of disloyalty. He went away with a reinforcement draft, and hie return on duty gives him the opportunity of a. hearing In the forthcoming action. He is attached to the Fortyfifth Reniforcemcnte, and returns shortly to the front.