DEAD MAN DEFENDED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1077, 15 September 1930, Page 10

DEAD MAN DEFENDED

“HARSH AND UNWARRANTED STATEMENTS” ROTORUA SLANDER SEQUEL Press Association ROTORUA, Today. A very large meeting, presided over by the Mayor, Mr. T. Jackson, and convened by the Returned Soldiers’ Association, was held last, evening to protest against the magistrate’s remarks when delivering judgment against Thomas Hultou, in the recent slander case. The following resolution was carried:— “That the Rotorua Returned Soldiers’ Association, and Ibis meeting, protest (a) at the harsh and unwarranted statements recently made by the presiding magistrate with regard to the late Thomas Henry Hultou in the case Smith v. Hultou, wherein he referred to Hultou as a thief, blackmailer, perjurer, drunkard, drug-ad-dict and blackguard: (b) that the Minister of Justice be requested to institute a public inquiry as to the grounds for such statement, and as to the reason of the magistrate not directing police action against Hutton for ‘perjury, theft, and blackmail,’ in order to substantiate his judgment; (.c) this meeting desires to place on record its appreciation of the excellent war service given by the late Mr. Hultou and of his conduct as a citizen of Rotorua during the last 20 years.” Major R. Dansey and Major W. Sumner spoke strongly in support of the resolution, which was carried on a show of bauds.