CRIMINAL LIBEL.

Evening Star, Issue 8614, 7 September 1891, Page 4

CRIMINAL LIBEL.

At the Auckland criminal sittings on Friday morning, before Mr Justice Conolly, Hugh Shortland was called on by His Honor to put in his plea to the oharge of oriminal libel brought against him by a young lady. There was no appearance of Shortland in or about the Court when his name was called. Mr Campbell said he appeared for the informant, and applied for a warrant for the apprehension of Shortland. His Honor said he would be quite justified in granting the request. It was a most extraordinary thing. Shortland had been informed he would have to plead this morning, and the order of the Court could not be treated with contempt, Shortland at this stage put in an appearance, and the indictment against him was read and his plea waß handed to his solicitor. After reading it, His Honor Baid the greater portion was totally irrelevant and he would not allow it to be put in. He should direot the jury it was no justification, because informant libelled him, that he should libel her by stating she j was of immoral charaoter. It could be a plea in mitigation. Shortland quoted'

from Hodges, p. 332, and said he was at a disadvantage through leaving aome of his papers at home. His Honor said he had been ordered to have his plea ready that morning. The argument read by Shortland did not support nis plea in the slightest degree. Shortland again read from Bodger, p r 229, in Bupport of the plea. His Honor ordered that the plea be amended and delivered the next morning.