BIG CLAIM FOR LIBEL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 27 June 1924, Page 8

BIG CLAIM FOR LIBEL.

Ey Telegraph—Press Association, WELLINGTON, Juno 2f>. A libel case was commenced at tho Supreme Court to-day, in which Hay, Pcnlington, Ltd., Wellington, merchants.' are claiming £souo damages from R. Hannah and Co., Wellington, boot and shoe manufacturers. A special jury was empanelled. Tho action arose from an advertisement in the “Evening Post” on Feb ruary 14th, 1924, and in provincial papers about the same time, and from sale displays exhibited on defendants' shop windows. Jt was admitted that on January 12 last, tho plaintiffs agreed to soli to the defendants a stock of boots and shoes then in plaintiffs’ warehouse, at landed cost, less 20 per cent.,. except in tho case of samples on which 25 per coni, wa« to 1)0 Allowed. Then plaintiffs itllogod, fippetUvid un Advertisement aniioumditK ft swooping clearance, uul si a ting that Hannah had bought f'em plaintiffs’ ftf hull 1 price, lor case., £IO,OOO worth of boots and shoes. Notices to the unmo effect were, it i* alleged, placed oil tho shop windows, Plainlid’s claim (hut the advertisements and noticos meant were and were understood to moan, that the inamtit's were Insolvent, or in financial diff.culiy, and had been rompollod to disposo ol boots and shoos nt considerably less than their value, or alternatively, that the plaintiffs had ceased to carry on business generally, or nt least in boots and shoes, Defendants denied that tho notices

were capable of the meanings alleged, or of any defamatory meaning. 1 laiutiffs claimed that the notices were false, and malicious, and dciendants said they were in the usual course ot business, in the honest belief ot their truth, and without nmhee. Counsel for tho p.amti.ls said that onlv £3319 15i 23 had been paid for the" stocks, eye! ml mg samples, wind: were ol' negligible