ACTION BY A MINISTER.
DAMAGES, £250. (l)Y JIEIiEGKAI'H.—PRESS ASSOCIATION). Isvercaegill, Saturday. After a trial extending over six days, the action the Kev. J. B. Smellie v. E. G. McPherson, proprietor of the Wyndham Fanner, concluded to-night. Plaintiff claimed £IOOO damages tor libel in respect that defendant published the grounds of complaint against Mr Smellie by ex deacons of his congregation, which were read at a private meeting. The jury, after a retirement of three and ahalf hours, returned a two-thirds verdict for plaintiff for £250. Counsel for defendant mentioned that he would probably move for a new trial. His Honor said he was sure the jury very much regretted that the matter should have been dragged into court. Disputes of thatd| kind were much better settled in the'W congregation in which they arose, but he need hardly point out that that was an objection not open to the defendant to make because he had brought the matter before the public by publishing in a newspaper circulating in the district the words complained of. After that had been done there was no course open to plaintiff but to come before the court to vindicate his character.
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Bibliographic details
Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 310, 5 July 1898, Page 2
Word Count
195ACTION BY A MINISTER. Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 310, 5 July 1898, Page 2
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