LIBEL ACTION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19769, 10 April 1934, Page 12

LIBEL ACTION

By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND. April 9. ‘The evidence undoubtedly proves a malicious course of conduct to injure the plaintiff by the most serious charges,” said Mr Justice Ostler in the Supreme Court, in awarding Mrs Donald Lee Chapman £350 damages against Mabel McGregor to-day. Plaintiff was the proprietress of a boardinghouse, at which the defendant had been staying, and defendant wrote to the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, asserting that three girl boarders at the house were leading immoral lives, and that plaintiff was aware of and encouraged them in their conduct. The Society, because of the gravity of the allegations, sent the letter to the police, and as a result two girls were prosecuted, but the charges were dismissed by the Magistrate. The plaintiff alleged also, and called witnesses to prove that the defendant subsequently made slanderous statements similar to those she had written. Plaintiff claimed for injury to her reputation and the mental anguish caused by the police interrogations, sums totalling £950. There was no defence to th: action.

The Judge said the first charge was a libel, and the others were of slander, but all were criminal charges, and consequently there was no need to prove damage. It was not a case for nominal f images, but it seemed quite useless to award the full amount claimed, in view of the defendant’s circumstances. He gave judgment against defendant’s personal estate for £l5O. on the libel count, and £SO each on the four slander charges, with costs.