VERDICT AGAINST M.P.
£IOOO CLAIM FAILS ACTION FOR ALLEGED LIBEL [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON. Tuesday Finding that the words complained of were not defamatory against the plaintiff, a jury in the Supreme Court which heard a claim for £IOOO damages for alleged libel brought by Mr. John Robertson, M.P., against Garnet Hornby Saunders, of New Plymouth, and Harry Thompson, of Napier, returned a verdict in favour of defendants. Plaintiff is secretary of the New Zealand Motion Picture Exhibitors' Association and editor of the motion picture exhibitors' bulletin, while defendants are motion picture exhibitors.
The jury of 12 was absent for four hours and a-quarter. They returned at 9 p.m. and announced that there was no possibility of their reaching unanimity, and the verdict accepted was that of 10 men to two. Judgment was entered for defendants, but an application by counsel for plaintiff for 10 days in which to movo any motion was granted. The hearing began on Friday, whilo to-day was occupied with further evidence for defendants and addresses by counsel. Mr. Justice Johnston was on the Bench, Mr. J. S. Hanna appeared for plaintiff, Mr. O. C. Mazengarb for Saunders and Mr. J. Mason, of Napier, for Thompson.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23504, 15 November 1939, Page 12
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201VERDICT AGAINST M.P. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23504, 15 November 1939, Page 12
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