SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 64, 13 September 1900, Page 5

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS.

» THE HASTINGS LIBEL CASE. I'BY TELEGRAPH — PKfcSS ASSOCIATION.] NAPIER, 12Lh September. A libel action, Piloher v. the proprietor of the evening newspaper published here, in which plaintiff claims £1000 damages in connection with what is known as the " Inner Harbour Mystery," commenced at the Supreme Court to-day. A woman, as yet unidentified, enceinte, and with no clothing on, was found in the harbour early in June. Plaintiff's case, which was finished to-day, is that cei'tain articles in the paper alleged tbab Emily Pilcher, daughter of the plaintiff, was the woman found; that she was enceinte to her father; and that he murdered her to hide the affair. The defence is a denial that any such meaning <;au be attached to' the article ; that the comments were justified by fact's brought under the notice of the editor, and wero in thepublic interest. Malice is not alleged, counsel for the plaintiff expressly slating that no personal 1 feeling was imputed to the proprietor of the paper. AUCKLAND, 12th September. The dispute over the disposition of the surplus on the Auckland Exhibition, which was to have been heard at the civil sittings of the Supreme Court, which opened to-d:iy, has been adjourned till the firßt sittings next year, two of the most important witnesses — members of Parliament— being unable to attend.