JUDGE JOHNSTON ON LIBEL.
His Honor Judge Johnston, in addressing a Dunedin jmy on a libel, case, said :—Any writing, or printing, or representation by painting, photograph, or other means which tends to bring one of Her Majesty's subjects into ridicule, contempt, discredit, or public odium—that is a libel. Now, I daresay you have all beard that maxim, “The greater the truth the greater the libel.” That maxim was ridden to death, and modern legislation and common sense introduced this rule—that if libellous :•>; published, or what otherwise vr:■•“!!? punishable libel, or iibe. vy.m- 1.1 action could be brought —izi -i-.ruixurj the last Act of Viciccu refs-rriig criminal cases —it is compeieEt ft: t: t defendant to do that which he could n:: have dene before the Statute, vis., show the facts which appear libellous are true, the facts actually’ occurred. But in order to prevent the spread of calumny, and scandal, and libel—one of the worst'of social evils that society can bo exposed to —this proviso was added : “ That the publication must be for tho public benefit if it is merely'a private libel—not for the public benefit at all—you cannot justify it on tho ground that it is true.
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Bibliographic details
South Canterbury Times, Issue 2673, 13 October 1881, Page 2
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199JUDGE JOHNSTON ON LIBEL. South Canterbury Times, Issue 2673, 13 October 1881, Page 2
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