A LIBEL CASE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8124, 22 March 1887, Page 5

A LIBEL CASE.

[Per Prbss Association.] DUNEDIN, March 21. The Supreme Court was occupied all day in hearing the libel case, Sutherland v. Neill. The plaintiff had been a warder in the Seacliff Lunatic Asylum, of which the defendant is Medical Superintendent. The libel consisted in the plaintiff having caused a letter to he written to the Superintendent of the Auckland Asylum, stating that the plaintiff had been dismissed for “ gross insolence and insubordination.” It appeared from the evidence that the plaintiff and another wardaman had written to Dr Neill, stating that in their opinion he had neglected a patient named Cook, and they would lay the matter before the authorities for investigation. On receipt of this letter Dr Neill dismissed the two warders who had signed it, and caused letters to be written to the Superintendents of other institutions, Intimating the dismissal and the grounds for it. It was submitted that the communication was privileged, and with this his Honor agreed. Under these circumstances, it was necessary to prove malice, and he thought if the jury believed the warders they might perhaps find something in their evidence which would support the idea of malice. The jury found that the letter was written maliciously, and gave a verdict for the plaintiff for JBS and costs.