THE PRESS LIBEL ACTIONS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7165, 8 September 1886, Page 2

THE PRESS LIBEL ACTIONS.

SIR JULIUS VOQBL MOVES FOR A

NEW TRIAL. Sir J. Yoo,el has served notice on the proprietors of the Evening Press .of his intention to move for a new trial in the late libel suit against the Evening Press, on the grounds— (l) that the judge misdirected the jury ; (2) that plaintiff has further evidence to proluco,; and (3) that the verdict was against the* weight of evidence.

During the late nction the plaintiff wheeled himself into the presence of justice in his armchair, and whon giving evidence was subjected to cross-examin-ation, in the course of which ho became at times somewhat irritable, and once took occasion to remind tho learned counsel for the defence that ho was a press man beforo he (Mr. Bell) was born — having • written his first arljole in 1854 or 1855, and having been for many years editor of newspapers. He admitted that ha had had two libol actions brought against him when Mr. Alacandrew was a candidate for tho Superintendency of Otago. Ho wrote a good many articles on different subjects, in which ho f oared that ho ( had referred to that gentleman iv his public and private capacity. Thoro wore no articles he had regretted so much as Ithose. He always wrote conscientiously, and under a senso of great responsibility. Sio Julius particularly 6evero in pronouncing an opinion upon the work oE the Hansard staff wnen giving evidence in the libel actioa Mr. Bill asked Sir Julius whether tha reports t of his speeches in Hansard were authorised voreiona. Tho witness ropliod that he would be soiry lo svy that because they were so wretchedly reportod that it was itnposaiblo to make tho requisite correct ,OnO Without taking up too iuu«h time in rewriting, and whole sentences had therefore frequently to bn cut out.