THE GREAT LIBEL ACTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9163, 19 September 1888, Page 5

THE GREAT LIBEL ACTION.

The action brought by Mr. G. R. Dibbs. M.L. A., against the Sydney Daily Telegraph newspaper was brought to a close on Friday, the 7th, after occupying the attention of the Supreme Court for ten days. The jury wss a special one of twelve men. Mr. Pilcher, Q.C., Mr. Want, Q.C., and Mr. O'Connor, instructed by Mr. McLaughlin, appeared for the plaintiff; and Mr. Rogers, y.C., Mr. E. Barton, and Mr. (>. H. Reid, Instructed by Messrs. Stephen, Jaques, and Stephen, for the defendant company. The alleged libellous matter was contained in a leading article published in the Daily Telegraph on the 10th December last. In it Mr. Dibbs was accused of having "criminally manipulated the colony s finances,' whilst holding the position of Colonial Treasurer. Mr. Justice Innes concluded his summing up on Thursday afternoon. The jury retired, but not being able to agree were locked up for the night. On Friday morning they brought in a verdict for the plaintiff, damages £100. The plaintiff had claimed £25,000 for the injury done to his credit and reputation as Colonial Treasurer, member of the Legislative Assembly, and otherwise. The defendants had paid into Court the sum of 40s as enough to satisfy the plaintiffs claim. Thus there was not an absolute denial that any jury had been done. The estimate of the defendants was that £2 would cover it. The jury came to the conclusion that £100 would be enough. But £100 comes much nearer to £2 than it does to £25,000. In other words, the jury has decided that the defendants' estimate was a much closer approximation to accuracy and the justice of the case than the plaintiff's ; and therefore, although the verdict is technically for the plaintiff, and will carry costs, it is practically, so far as the apparent objects of the action are coucerned, a verdict for the defendants.