LIBEL ACTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 11049, 29 August 1896, Page 6

LIBEL ACTION.

’j[Pek Press Association.] WELLINGTON, August 28. In the Supreme Court to-day Richard Crabb, temperance lecturer, began an action for £2OOO damages against the New Zealand Times and its publisher. The statement of claim set forth that on June 10 the defendants falsely and maliciously printed and published in the New Zealand Times certain words calculated to affect the fair trial of an action' brought by Alfred Crossey against Richard Crabb, to recover .£5Ol as damages for defamation, and, in consequence, the plaintiff had been prejudiced in his credit and influence for good as a temperance lecturer in New Zealand and elsewhere, and he therefore claimed .£2OOO as damages. For the defence ,it was denied that Richard Crabb was well known in New Zealand and the Australian Colonies. Defendants admitted .that they had published certain words'ln reference to MrCrabb, but denied that the swords were defamatory, and stated that the article -was fair comment 'published bond fide for the benefit of the public. The case is proceeding. In the Supreme Court to-day, Mr Jellicoe said that there was still on the list an action for criminal libel brought by Austin Kirby, ex-detective, against Patrick S. Cassidy and Alfred Ashbolt,. in which he had applied to enter a nolle prosequi, but as to which the Crown Prosecutor had not filed his fiat. It had now been determined to proceed with the case, as the attacks against Kirby had been renewed in that morning’s Times. The Chief Justice said that he had read the paragraph referred to, and certainly supposed that it was a renewal of . the libel. Mr Slerrett objected to the case being proceeded with after an. application had been made for a nolle prosequi. Ultimately his Honor paid that the case should stand. It will probably come on at the next sittings of the Supreme Court. •' ■ , After deliberating three hours the jury, returned with a verdict for , .£SO agair: the New Zealand Times, costs according to scale.