NOT LIBEL.
JUDGE’S RULING IN COURT CASE If a person, acting in good faith, informs a lady that her husband is believed to be unfaithful, the occasion is privileged, according to Mr Justice Horridge. . He gave this ruling m a libel action in London in which William Watt, company director, sued liis former business associate, Robert Longsdon, who had showed Mrs Watt a letter written by E. Browne, another business associate, in which Brown accused the husband of behaving unfaithfully when he went to Casablanca on the company’s business. Browne is the company’s Moroccan manager. Longsdon now admitted that the accusation was untrue, but his counsel contended that, as he was the wife’s friend, there was a moral duty for him to disclose the information. Mr Justice Horridge ruled that Longsdon was legitimately _ interested in Mrs Watt’s marital affairs, and he made the communication honestly. It was therefore, a privileged occasion, and there was no evidence of malice. He withdrew the' case from the jury, and gave a verdict for the defendant with costs for Longsdon.
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Bibliographic details
Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 141, 16 May 1929, Page 2
Word Count
176NOT LIBEL. Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 141, 16 May 1929, Page 2
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