STERN COMMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 110, 9 April 1934, Page 2

STERN COMMENT.

BY SUPREME COURT JUDGE. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 9. “The evidence undoubtedly proves a malicious course of conduct to injure plaintiff by most serious charges,” said Mr Justice Ostler in the Supreme Court to-day in awarding Mi's Donald Lee Chapman £350 damages against Mabel McGregor. Plaintiff was proprietress of a boarding house at which defendant had been staying and defendant wrote to the Society for the Protection of Women and Children asserting that three girl boarders at the house were leading an immoral life and that plaintiff was aware of, and encouraged,- them in their conduct. The society, because of the gravity of the allegations, sent a letter to the police and as a result two girls were prosecuted, but the charges were dismissed by the Magistrate. Plaintiff alleged also, and called witnesses to prove, that defendant subsequently made slanderous statements similar to those she had written. Plaintiff claimed for injury to her reputation and mental anguish caused by the police interrogations, the sums totalling £950. There was no defence to the action. The Judge said the first charge was of libel and the others were of slander, but all were criminal charges, consequently there was no need to prove damage. It was not a case» for nominal damages, but it seemed quite useless to award the full amount claimed in view of defendant’s circumstances. He gave judgment against defendant’s i>ersonal estate for £l5O on the libel count and £SO each on the four slander charges, with costs.