ACTION FOR SLANDER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20704, 30 April 1929, Page 13

ACTION FOR SLANDER.

GRAVE IMPUTATIONS MADE. MAGISTRATE’S TO PARTIES. (Pee United Press Association.! WELLINGTON - , April 89. Before Mr J. S. Barton, S.M., "to-day ' a slander action was heard in which £3OO was sought from Jessie Jackson, married, of Webb, street, by Emma Muleahy, married, of Wellington. It was claimed that the defendant sent a letter to Mr Hardie Bdyes, solicitor,-and to Mr' Muleahy, the plaintiff’s husband, which allegedly* identified the plaintiff with a woman named Smith who once stood trial for the murder of one Conway, and whose story was recently recalled in the press by telegraph messages from Auckland, a clipping of which was enclosed witirthe letter. 'lt.was claimed that by the letter and the clipping the defendant meant that the plaintiff had t by poison murdered one Conway and one Brown; that in respect to the death of Conway she was under suspicion of murder; that she had committed a criminal offence in administering'poison, and that she was a person of no repute by reason of the suspicions attaching to her actions. ' ’ After evidence had been. heard the magistrate said he was satisfied that tha defendant had sent the lejtersj but that in view of the circumstances and the '■ conduct of the parties he would award £3 to the plaintiff, but more as a fine by the, defendant. If they could not behave themselves in the future ho suggested that they should be hound , over to keep the peace. . .