PAINTER’S LIBEL ACTIOND

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 June 1937, Page 4

PAINTER’S LIBEL ACTIOND

CATALOGUED AS DEAD. LONDON, June 8. The distinguished French painter Maurice Utrillo, is bringing an action tor libel against the director of .the Tate Gallery and others on the ground of the publication in a catalogue of the statement that he was a confirmed dipsomaniac, and sold many of his pictures for the price of a drink, The catalogue also states that he was almost continually under supervision from 1919 until he died in 1934. ’Phe matter came before the Court of Appeal when counsel lor Utrillo sought to have particulars struck out or amended on the ground that they prejudiced the fair trial of the action. J,ord Justice Greer: If he is dead he cannot proceed with the action. Counsel: He is alive. Lord' Justice Greer: Is it a libel to say of anyone that he is dead? Counsel: No, but it is a libel to say of anyone, particularly one of the most eminent of living French painters, that he drank himself to death. Lord Justice Greer, in giving judgment, held that the particulars were relevant to the contention that Utrillo became a continued dipsomaniac. If Utrillo attached importance to the statement that he drank himself to death, although he was actually alive, the matter could be argued at the trial. He, therefore, refused to strike out the particulars.