Ihe Age Libel Cases.

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 83, 9 April 1894, Page 4

Ihe Age Libel Cases.

Mr. Syme, the Age proprietor, has lost both applications to the Supreme Court in connection with his railway libel actions. Tn the Speight case he applied that the second trial should not be allowed to proceed until the appeal to thn Full Court upon the single count upon which tho jury found a verdict against him on tuo fir-it trial Mr. Syme grounded his appeal ajrainst the verdiot which went against him ou the plea that it wns rncoivod during the vacation, upon a clay when tho Court was not appointed to sit. Mr. Speight is now proceeding over again in a now trial upon the ten points on which the jury dieagreed, and Mr. Justice Hood has decided that this trial must proceed withont delay. Mr. S-yme's application for adjournment was unsuccessful. In regard to Mr. Allison Smith's libel case against the Age, Mr. Syme made application that the trial of it should bo remitted to the County Court, on the gronndthat Mr. Smith could not pay the costs of the Supreme Court action if he lost. This application also was heard before Mr. Justioe Hood, who has given it against Mr. Syme ; not_, however, on the ground of Mr. Smith's ability to pay. Mr. Syme estimates the cost at .£SOOO. As to Mr. Smith's financial position, the Judge said — " The plaintiff has sworn that his property is of the value of .£4OOO, but having regard to the nature of that property and to the facts set out in tho answering affidavit, I cannot help thinking that he has formed a very exaggerated idea of his position." But he decided in favour of Mr. Smith on tho ground that the action was of such importance that tho Supreme Court was tho proper Court in whioh to try it.