PAPERS SUED

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1935, Page 6

PAPERS SUED

“SHARK-ARM” CASE SEQUEL. (Australian Press Association.) SYDNEY, June 27. In connection with the cases of contempt of Court on the part of the “Sun” and “Daily Telegraph” in connection with the tattooed aim in quiry, for which apologies were made on June 21, Mr Justice Halse Rogers to-day imposed two fines of one hundred pounds each on 'Sun Newspapers, Limited, in relation to the publication in the “Telegraph” and the “Sun” respectively of matter calculated to prejudice the trial of the person awaiting /trial on a charge : of murder. His Honour also fined the editors of those two papers the sum of £25 each. The Judge directed that the fines, with costs, be paid within two days. Mr Justice Halse Rogers said that the assumption in the reports of both journals was that James Smith had been murdered. This was calculated to influence, at least subconsciously the minds of all who read it. It had assumed a matter which might become controversial at the trial of a person charged with murder. It assumed a matter which the Crown would first have to prove. That method of writing was certainly very dangerous. The Judge added that it was the duty of the editor or some responsible person on any newspaper to instruct the reporters respecting the limitations on the publication of what were called crime stories.