TEACHER'S LIBEL CASE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1704, 22 March 1913, Page 4

TEACHER'S LIBEL CASE.

JURY AWARD '£25 DAMAGES. (By Telcffrftub.—Prene Association.! Mastorton, MaroH CO, % 6upM>mte Court oaso, in which William Hy. Jaokson, Headmaster of tho Masterton District High School, claimed from Douglas Mooro Graham, printer and publisher of tho "Wairorapa Dally Times," a 6um of .£OOO damages for alleged libel, was hoard to-dav. Threo distiuct acrtions were bronchi against tho defendant: new^por:—First, that defendant had falsely and maliciously published an anonymous letter stating that plaintiff, was incligiblo to bo a member of tlio Trust Lands Trust, being personally and financially interested! secondly/ that defendant maliciously and falsely published a leading article asserting that plaintiff had no business to bo a niombsr oil tho said Trust Lands Trust, 'tho position being anomalous, if not illegal, as ho was directly interested in discussions taking placo on tho said trust; thirdly, that defendant made malicious rcforonco to plaintiff in connection, with tho school committee, stating that plaintiff unduly influenced his own ooniEiitteo. Tho oaso occupicd tho greater, part of two days. : Tho jury, after a retirement of SJ hours, returned a verdict for defendant on ho first and third counts, and for plaintiff on tho second count, with damages, 1 and costs. _ Teu days wero granted, on tho application of defendant's counsel, to apply for a nonsuit or new trial. In tho case of Augustus John Johnson, auctioneer, versus Robert Russell, claim of »C 505 damages for alleged slander, a verdict was returned for defendant, with costs as per scale.