CASE FOR THE DEFENCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 6 November 1925, Page 9

CASE FOR THE DEFENCE.

ALLEGED LIBEL ACTION. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION. I AUCKLAND, Nov. 6. The action claiming £SOOO damages for alleged libel by John Ignatius Fox against William Good fellow, was resumed at the Supreme Court this momfhr John Finlay opened the case for the defence. He said he had never known a case in which a man brought into court his reputation and asked the jury tO‘ assess the damages done to it ‘by an alleged' slander, and yet shriiiked from going into the witnessbox himself. Sir John Goodfellow read a letter written to Mr Goodfe'low by W illiam Ranstead, and said that they pleaded that they had reasonable grounds to believe the statements made in that letter were true. Three witnesses for the plaintiff had stated on oath that Mr Goodfellow had not been actuated bv malice, and that he had been quite sincere. The who'e case showed a complete absence of malice and was bona, fide. Counsel asked for a nonsuit on the charge of slander on the grounds of law points. His Honor reserved his decision.

William Ranstead, farmer, of Raglan, in Lis evidence, admitted, writing the letter mentioned. He admitted that had he known the ’etter would have been published he would have framed it differently, but the facts were there.