JOCKEY'S LIBEL CLAIM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19104, 27 August 1936, Page 16

JOCKEY'S LIBEL CLAIM

JURY'S £SOO AWARD INSTRUCTION BY JUDGE rElec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) SYDNEY, Aug 26. The libel suit claiming .CSCOO damages against Thomas George Hopkins and others of the sporting paper, Newsletter, brought in the Supreme Court by the jockey, Maurice McCarten, formerly ot New Zealand, concluded to-day.' The jury found in favour of McCarten and awarded him £SOO damages and costs. The . defendant had paid into court, one shilling in respect of one paragraph in the Newsletter of which McCarten complained. The judge announced that he intended to direct that certain papers tendered to the. court should, be forwarded to the Crown Law authorities with a view to proceedings being taken under the Newspaper Act. McCarten claimed £SOOO damages against Arthur, Leslie Herbert Hopkins, newspaper publisher, in respect of the publication in the Newsletter and Hopkins Turf Form, which, he alleged, formed part of a systematic attack made upon him by the paper for some time. McCarten's 'affidavit said the articles meant that he was a dishonest person and had been guilty of improper and corrupt practices, that he had betrayed the'trust of his employers, and was not fit to fulfil the calling of a jockey. Hopkins pleaded not guilty, and set out that the articles were fair and bonafide comments concerning.McCarten in his public, capacity and were published without malice and in the public interest.