ALLEGED LIBEL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9407, 30 March 1909, Page 4

ALLEGED LIBEL.

At Wanganui yesterday the Court was engaged in hearing a libel action in which G. V. Pearce, JM.P., sued Bert Symes for alleged libel, and claimed £SO damages, and a counterclaim by Symes against Pearce claiming £250 for alleged libel. The cases were heard , together. Pearce and Symes own adjoining properties at Waitotara, separated by a stretch of sand which is nnfenced. On November 10th, 1908, Pearce saw Symes driving a mob of bullocks* and thought that one was his. Symes declined to come and inspect it, bnt it was afterwards agreed that it should he put in a yard and examined by Pearce’s manager. Subsequently Symes inserted a challenge in * the daily’papers, stating thatPearce had accused him of being wrongfully in possession of one of his bullocks. In this Symes offered to dbn&te £lO to a local charity If Pearce could prove the “accusation,’’ if Pearce wonld give a similar donation in the event of his being unsuccessful. On the eve of the election another advertisement appeared demanding that Pearce should justify the “accusation.” Pearce denied having made any accusation against Symes. He alleged that the challenge had lost him votes in Waverley district. After the election Pearce wrote a letter to the Editor of the Pa tea paper, but was charged for it as an advertisement. In the letter, he stated that Symes was at tiines not wholly responsible for what he did. He did net mean this to show otherwise than that Symes was of an excitable disposition. Did not mean that Symes was a man of mental weakness and con eqnently irresponsible. To the contrary, lie knew Symes to he a hard business man, but he had always been excitable. | The case was not concluded when the Court rose.