Libel Case Extraordinary.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XX, Issue 6167, 24 January 1895, Page 1

Libel Case Extraordinary.

The question whether it is libellous for a newspaper to say a woman is married when as a fact she is still a spinster arose in the Victorian Practice Court, Melbourne, the other day. An advertisement appeared in the Argus announcing a marriage. As no marriage had ever taken place between the parties, the lady resented the announcement, and instituted proceedings to recover damages for alleged libel. On behalf of the defendants, Messrs Wilson and Mackinnon, the proprietors of the Argus, counsel made an application to strike out the statement of claim as disclosing no ground of action. He contended that it was not libellous to call a spinsters married woman, as it could cast no imputation of unchastity on her character. The judge, however, held that the statement might be libellous, as it would give acquaintances an opportunity of saying that the defendant was " living a lie " by holding herself out to the world as a single girl, whereas, according to the newspaper, she was married. He dismissed the application, but without costs, as he considered that in all probability the case might turn out to be a trumpery one.