The Evening Post Libel Case.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 167, 27 January 1888, Page 2

The Evening Post Libel Case.

The proprietors of the Evening Post were defendants in an action for lihel which was heard in llie Supreme Court ou Tuesday. The p'aintilf, John Martin, late licensee of the City Hotel, sought to recover £IOOO damages for injury which lie alleged he had sustained in consequence of the publication of an urticle in the Post of the Btli November last with reference to the death of the wife of the pluinliff. who committed suicide. The plaintitT alleged that the nrticle imputed to him that he was a man devoid of ordinary humanity; that he was an hibitual drunkard ; that he W'as not a proper person to hold a publican's license ; and that he was calous, besotted with drink, of drunken habits, devoid of humanity, and an until person to be u licensed publican. The plamtilT further ulleged that the publication was false, malicious, and defamatory, and that in consequence thereof Ins interest in the City Hotel was depreciated. and he was otherwise injured in his business. The defendants admitted publication, but denied that tiie words of the article had any other or further meaning than the ordinary and natural meaning of such words, or that the plaintitT had sustained any special damage. The proceedings in connection with the inquest were then set out. aud il was pleaded that the matter was one of public interest, that tiie article w as fair and honest comment upon the evidence, aud that it was published without defamatory intent. The defendants further pleaded that the article was aud is true in substance and in fact, accord,ng to tbe true and natural meaning of the words, and that the report of the prnce dings at the inquest, aud the publication thereof, were made fairly and i*>M Jidt for tli« public good without any timeter

or malicious motive, and in Com jOt belief of the truth thereof and of «.l| part thereof. v After an hour's consideration tiie 1 special jury gave a verdict for the defendants, with costs ou the bigheet scale.