LIBEL SUIT

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1943, Page 1

LIBEL SUIT

AGAINST MAYOR OF WELLINGTON.

JUDGMENT FOR PLAINTIFF.

P.A. WELLINGTON, May 18. A verdict awarding £lOO damages to the ’plaintiff, Miss Myra Cohen, former Supervisor of the Combined Womens’ Services Club in her action for libel against Thomas Charles Atkinson Hislop, solicitor, and Chairman of the Wellington Patriotic Committee was returned by the jury in the Supreme Court to-day, the jury’s decision being reached by a three-fourths majority after the foreman had informed the Chief Justice that full agreement was impossible. The jury was out three hours and a-quarter. The action was founded on a letter allegedly dictated by Hislop to an employee of the committee on February 5, and allegedly falsely and maliciously published to the honorary secretary "and the honorary treasurer. The letter, which was over the secretary’s signature and addressed to the plaintiff, then supervisor of the Combined Women’s Services’ Club, referred to the acceptance of her resignation.

On the application of plaintiff’s counsel (Mr Leicester) His Honour formally entered judgment for plaintiff, with costs according to scale. Mr Watson, senior counsel for defendant, applied for an extension to fourteen days of time of an application for a new trial.

His Honour: On what grounds? Mr Watson: I prefer not to state the grounds on the spur of the moment, Your Honour. His Honour: Verv well.