ACTION FOR SLANDER.

Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5170, 17 June 1891, Page 4

ACTION FOR SLANDER.

» . . (H\ TstsoaArn. ■ WELLINGTON, June 16. W. J. Meek who successfully sued n young lady 1 1 whom he waa engaged for the return of jewellery last week, baa been appearing yeeterday and to-day as defendant m a slander action. Bhottly after hia marriage with Miaa Attwood was broken off he married a Misa Nichohon, daughter of tbe woli known scenic artist of that name. It appeared from the evidence that statements had been made as to defendant's behaviour to hia wife before he married her, she being a girl of 20 and ho an old man of 66, and these led to a quarrel between Meek and hia father-in-law. The former wrote letters to tbe masonic lodge officially repudiating the chargeß brought by Nicholson and calling the latter a convict, felon, and liberated convict. Owing, however, to hia peculiar spelling it was not at all clear whether he wrote fe'oa or fellow. He claimed that the word waa the latter ; plaintiff considered it to be tbe former. Nicholson m consequence sued for £500 damages. Meek swore he had obtained his information from beariog something which Nicholson's wife 1. 1 fall, and also from his own wife. The latter went into the box aud corroborated what he said. Meek, however, admitted what ho had offered Nicholson £100 to settle tho matter, but insisted that it was to prevent a Mason'c reindai. Plaintiff denied that he had ever been a convict or a felon. His wife doniod that abe had ever eaid anything like what Meek attributed to her. Thomas Carr said that defendant bad asked him to try and get plaintiff's coDßent to hia marriage, as Miss Nicholson waa likely to havo a child through him. Meek waa recalled and denied solemnly that he had acted improperly to his wife before marriage. Jf Carr said that he waa ao abominable — well, something. After two hours' deliberation the epscial jury returned a verdict for plaintiff foi; £10 damages.