SENSATIONAL DAMAGES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13906, 3 December 1910, Page 9

SENSATIONAL DAMAGES.

LONDON COUNTY COUNCILLOR MULCTED IN £12.000. Umittd Press Association— By Elw»ri« Telejfraph—Copyright. IX>NDON, December 1. Twelve thousand pounds damages have been awarded against Sir John Benn, for libelling the patentees of the stud system of tramways. The plaintiffs contended that Sir John Benn, for political motives, denounced their system, which tho Moderates, who at the time of tho installation had been in power in the London County Council, had experimented with, and that Sir John thereby secured its abandonment. Mr Justice Ridley, in summing up, said that it was not denied that the system as installed at Mile End was a failure, but this was attributed to tho method of installation. The jury must consider whether the words impugned referred to tho system as installed or tho whole system.. Ho emphasised, regarding fair comment, that a person should get his facts right. The jury found that the words were defamatory and malicious. The words were statements of fact, not opinion. A stay of judgment was allowed on the payment of £5000 into Court, with a view to an appeal.