SUPREME COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 July 1926, Page 3

SUPREME COURT

LIBEL ACTION. [BY TELEGRAm —I’ER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, July' 7. Justice Stringer and special jury occupied tho Supremo Court hearing an action involving a claim for £SOOO damages by Alfred Hall Skelton (barrister and solicitor) against Henry Hastings Soabrook and Thomas Farrell (printers) for alleged libel. During tho election campaign last year a circular was issued by tho , Protestant Political Association signed by Sea r brook as President of tlie Rdskill group, in- which Potter and Skelton were ' parliamentary candidates. The circular attacked Skelton for having publicly eulogised Michael Collins, described us “leader of a gang of atrocious murderers” and spoke of plaintiff as having manifested sympathy with the enemies of the empire, who wished to secure its overthrow. The second cause of action was alleged matter ill the “New Zealand Sentinel” which the plaintiff claimed set him out as being disloyal and representative of persons who held murder as a sacred duty. On the first claim he asked for £2090 and on tho second £3OOO damages. The defence will he a denial of the publication; that Ihe words complained of were not intended to mean what was alleged, nor did that the words were not a libel and so far as they state the facts wire true in substance and fact; that the opinions or comment were ail honest criticism in tho public interest; further that publication was a final one and defendant suffered no damage.

SENTENCES. AUCKLAND, July 7. At the Supreme Court, Justice Stringer sentenced Arthur Tilling to a year for breaking, entering and theft. Francis Joseph Tanner to six months for a similar offence. George Edward Barber to three years at AYaikeria Reformatory for theft of drugs, accused having previously been at Roto Roa Island on account of his drug habits. W. Henaro Anpowu to six months for indecent assault at Rotorua. Harold Waterloo Bell was ordered to come, up for sentence on February 6th and will probably be discharged then if he has made good the amount stolen. Horace Vincent Byrne Speight to two years’ probation for theft of liquor in the Britomart Hotel case on condition Speight took out a prohibition order and paid £5 costs and £SO to the owner of the bond by instalments. CHRISTCHURCH, July 7. Prisoners sentenced at the Supreme Court: — i , Archibald .Frederick George Brooks, aged 21, obtaining a motor car by false pretences to reformative treatment for two years. Counsel said Brooks was a clerk in the Government Insurance- and had a desire to cut a dash. Wallace James Clifford True, alias Clifford Hodges, 28, for theft, to two years’ reformative. Frank Hardy Frinces, 45, theft while s\T Government servant and forgery, to two years’ reformative. ,