MR SEMPLE SLANDERED

Southland Times, Issue 18810, 1 May 1920, Page 2

MR SEMPLE SLANDERED

AN APOLOGY TENDERED. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 29. : At the Magistrate's Court to-day Robert f Semple, late member for Wellington South, sought to recover £SO damages from Sydney John Sapsford for slander, alleged to have been spoken by defendant to Walter Hadley, in December last. It was alleged. that Sapsford had stated before the Parliamentary election that Mr Semple had kept a house of ill-fame under license in Brisbane ana asked whether Hadley would vote for such a man. Mr O’Leary appeared for defendant and on his behalf tendered an unreserved apology to Mr Semple. He said the statement had been made during the heat of argument. Defendant admitted frankly that tlicre was no justification for such a statement. Mr Semple hail accepted the apology and agreed to take a comparatively sin all sum, merely sufficient to cover his expenses. Mr O’Regan, counsel for Mr Semple, accepted the apology end said lie was quite prepared to believe that defendant was not the originator of the .statement. Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., agreed to th* dosing of the matter.