CURIOUS CASES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5554, 27 February 1886, Page 4

CURIOUS CASES.

MR. FRED FULTON'S TROUBLE. DUNEDIN, Feu. 2G. A man calling himself Thoma3 Kelly, ■but whose real name is William Mcc, sought to, recover in tho R.M. Court, to-day, J5G_ 10s from John M'Gee, ou the ground cf oppression, undue influence, and fraud. Kelly was a cattle dealer in Carlisle, England, and ho bought cattle from auctioneers on credit, and left for this Colony without paying for them. M'Gee had known Mcc (or Kelly) in Carlisle, and it was contended that he had obtained -£G2 10a by threatening to send him Home. Por the defence it was shown that Kelly had sought M'Gee aud had voluntarily given him money to hold his tongue. The Magistrate believed the latter version, and gavo 'judgment for the defendant. At the Police Court, Georgo Kennard was charged on tho information of Mr Fred Fulton, gentleman, for that on Feb. 10 be did unlawfully, falsely, and -maliciously write and publish of and concerning him, the said Fred Fulton, a certain false, scandalous, and defamatory libel in the words following: — "To the Editor of the Evening Herald. Sir, — lam not personally acquainted with Air Fred Fulton, but always understood that he was _i gentleman. However, atter /Arefully reading Wb letter this evening, I come to the -conclusion that he ceased to be a gentleman when he ceasul to be a drunkard i meaning that he, tke Baid Fred Fulton, nad been a drunkard). — I am, Ac. G, Kehnard." Plaintiff's Bolicitor attempted to show that thero waa an objectionable practice of referring to temperance lecturers as reformed drunkards. Evidence was given by plaintiff, in which he denied ever having been a drunkard. He was cross-examined as to what constituted a drunkard, whom ho described a_ a man

HMW* 1 * 1 "" »--»B»«-»P»»W«*MSeM__l___M-WWi«Bw«« who is habitually drunk, who gives con-stant-annoyance-to the police, who is neglectful of his family, a scandal to himself and a disgrace to the city in which he lives. -After hearing some other evidence, tho Benoh dismissed the case.