ACTION FOR LIBEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2985, 31 May 1911, Page 58

ACTION FOR LIBEL.

AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. CHRISTCHURCH, May 23. At the Supreme Court to-day Leonard Monk Isitt claimed £IOOO from James Mawson Stewart for alleged libel. The statement of claim set out that the name of the plaintiff had been falsely and maliciously inserted in a list published on January 5, 1911, by the defendant as secretary of the Committee of the Traders' Mutual Protection in which it was stated that it was not advisable to give credit to the persons named, who could not, or would not, pay their just debts. The plaintiff was formerly a Methodist minister, and is well known as a prohibition lecturer. He is in business in Christchurch as a bookseller, and the account for which he was listed was a chemist's bill for 6s, which, he said, had been overlooked and for which he had never been asked to pay. The defence admitted the publication of the plaintiff's name in the list, but denied that the insertion was falsely or maliciously made. It was also pleaded in defence that the list was privileged, in that it was for circulation among members of the association only. The jury awarded plaintiff £SOO, but certain law points were reserved.