ALLEGED LIBEL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 310, 24 September 1908, Page 7

ALLEGED LIBEL.

VERDICT IN FAVOUR OF DEFENDANT. (BY TELEGRAPH —TEESS ASSOCIATION.) Glsborne, September 23. • The libel; case instituted by Joseph Burke, hotelkeeper, against 'the Gisborne "Times" newspaper for publishing a paragraph alleging that a lambing-down ease had occurred at plaintiff's hotel, was concluded to-day. Tho jury were absent about an hour, and then returned with the following verdict "Wo find that Pearson arrived at Burke's Hotel, the Record Reign, on August 3. He (Pearson) had in his possession then a cheque for £37 18s., and about £5 6s. in notes and silver, and that Burke got possession. of the said cheque for £37 18s. and notes (£5), and he (Burke). has failed to satisfactorily account for the disposal of the above moneys, arid that ho (Burke) permitted Pearson to have as much intoxicating liquor as ho asked fof from time to time to Pearson's detriment physically and morally. We find that the defendant company has fully justified their publication of tho facts concerning one of the most deplorable lambing-down cases that has occurred in our midst. Wo therefore give our verdict in favour of tho defendant company." _ Upon receipt of . the verdict his Honour said:_ "I quite agree with your vordict. I think in this case tho defendant has done a, public service, and it is to be hoped it will bear fruit. Of course, in connection with this lambing-down case, it is very lamentable that it should reflect upon other hotelkeopers who do conduct their business in. a proper and respectable manner:" Costs were allowed on tho middle scale. It is understood they will amount to about £70. '