Peculiar Libel Action.

Evening Post, Volume XLIV, Issue 11, 13 July 1892, Page 4

Peculiar Libel Action.

- — — ♦ DAMAGES FOE MALIGNING A SUNDAT SCHOOL TEACHER. A libel action of a very peculiar character was lately heard before Judge Forbes in the District Court at Hay, Now South Wales, when John Simpson Meyers sued John Thomas Maguire and Lavinia Maguire (his wife) to recover JJ2OO for defamation of character. One of the plaintiff's witnesses, the Eev. John Calvert, Wesleyan minister, of Cootamundra, stated that last year he was "Wesleyan minister at Hay, and the plaintiff was the superintendent of the Sunday school. The female defendant came to him for spiritual advice, and hinted something which caused him to make further inquiry. Afterwards he saw Maguire, who made a charge againßt plaintiff. Witness asked Maguire to put the complaint in writing, and he afterwards received the following letter : " Rev. Mr. Calvert. Dear Sir— My wife has informed me that she and Simpson Meyers have been intimate for years. It is between four and five years since it began, and it has I lnstcd over two years, and the result was a child by him. — Thomas Maouire." "I wish to certify that the above which my | husband has written to the Eev. Mr. Calvert is true. — Lavinia Maquibe." In consequence of tho charge, Meyers was suspended from his office as Sunday school superintendent, and was still under suspension. Afterwards Mrs. Maguire told witness that she signed tho letter nndor the coercion of her husband, and that it was not truo. Tho plaintiff, in his evidence, denied the charge contained in the letter in toto. Ho "had boon Sunday-school superintendent 15 years, and was desirous of being reuppointed. He denied ever h&ving been unduly intimate with Mrs. Maguiro, or that she bad once been his sweetheart. The defendants did not appear, but their solicitor pleaded that the communication was privileged and made without malice. His Honour said the case should never have been brought into court. He did not think tho lottor had been written with malice, for tho minister had asked for the charge in writing ; but the plea of justification showed malice in his opinion. Ho would find for the plaintiff, damages JJ3O.