LIBEL ACTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15825, 25 July 1913, Page 5

LIBEL ACTION

WOOTTON v. SIEVIER. VERDICT FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

ONE FARTHING DAMAGES.

Press Association—By Telegraph— Copyright,

LONDON, July 23. In the Wootton-Sievier case Mr Marshall Hall, K.C., on behalf of the Winning Post, said Wootton had done everything to conoeal the facts. He had several banking accounts, and sent large- blocks of money to Australia. His jockeys could not call their souls their own. They were promised a thrashing if they did not do as they were told. The stable was run on commercial Jines, hence Wootton's opportunity of perpetrating fraud on the public. Mr F. E. Smith, K.C., on behalf of Wootton, declared that Sievier was animated by malice. He had poured out a volume of filthy insinuations because Wootton had refused to give him information. Sievier himself had been warned oil the turf. When members of the alleged ring gave evidence they -were not even cross-examined regarding the alleged pulling of six years ago. Sievier then made no complaints to .the stewards, but instead he wrote denouncing Wootton's detractors.

'Mr Justice Darling, in summing up, suggested that the increase of fouls was possibly due to riding with shorter stirrups.

The jury returned a verdict that the words were not true in substance or fact, and were not fair or honest comment, but that the statements were published without malice.

Judgment was entered for plaintiff, with damages one farthing and costs.

The alleged libellous statements were published on September 28, October 5, and November 2 of last year. On September 28 The Winning Pest" published an $hrtic!o headed "A Trainers' Ring," stating that there was something- more than rumour, asserting' there was a jockey ring, and that the ten stewards of the Jockey Club, having satisfied themselves that the rumor for. once had some foundation, left no stone unturned until they discovered tlio facts. In The Winning Post again on November 2. 1912. there appeared an article. headed " Fivo Furlongs Straight," and underneath a photograph of the plaintiff. On November 9 there also appeared a drawing of a racing board giving the names of horses and their jockeys, practically all wero jockeys and apprentices in the service of Mr Wootton. including his two 6ons, F. Wootand S. Wootton, and W. Huxley, M'Kenna, E. Huxlev, and others. AH Baba was represented looking up at this board. Certain paragraphs in tliese articles made charges of running races on the merits of the horses which the plaintiff had backed; of ordering the jockeys to pull horses not backed; and of running horses only halftrained.