THE LAW AND THE PRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9610, 7 September 1894, Page 5

THE LAW AND THE PRESS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. <—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] • (Jhristchdroh, Thursday. A question of the righb of a newspaper editor to refuse, even when asked in a court of law, to reveal the name of a writer of a letter in hia journal, came before the Supreme Court to-day, during the hearing of the libel action Williams v. Kinsey. Mr. J. S. Guthrie, editor of the Press, when asked by counsel fot the plaintiff if Kinsey was the writer of a letter signed "Viator," which : had appeared in that paper, declined to answer, on the ground that it was the moral duty of an editor not to give a name entrusted to him in confidence. Mr. Justice Denniston ruled that Mr. Guthrie was bound to reveal the name, that the right which newspaper editors had to reveal the names of their correspondents was extra judicial, and that) when asked in Court an editor was bound to give up the name. Mr. Guthrie still declined to do so, and asked for time to consult his solicitor. His Honor said that he did not see that the question was one for Mr. Guthrie's solicitor. Mr. Guthrie was setting up an ethical theory of his own against the authority of the Court. However, Mr. Guthrie, might , have time for reflection, and might stand down till after the other witnesses had been examined. After the luncheon adjournment, Mr. Stranger informed His Honor that Mr. Fisher, counsel for the defendant, would, in order to save Mr, Guthrie from having to violate a principle, admib that Kinsey had written the letber. - His Honor made no remark. The letter was pub in, and the incident closed. 1