TRUTH LIBEL CASE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13053, 22 April 1910, Page 5

TRUTH LIBEL CASE.

APPLICATION FOR NEW TRIAL DISMISSED. (Per [TuPed Press Association 1 WELLINGTON, April 21. Argument in the case of Periling v Norton was continued in the Supreme Court yesterday. In the recent action for libel the jury awarded Bortling £IOOO damages agajnst John Norton, proprietor of N.Z. Truth. The arose out of certam articles appearing in his newspaper concerning Bertling’s treatment of animal* at Wellington Zoo. Mr Dunn, on' behalf of Norton,, moved for a new trial, as the damages awarded were excessive. The Chief Justice remarked that he did not think the damages were excessive, considering, the damages given in, such cases’ in' England, He pointed out that in several assertions in the grounds given for re-hearing were utterly erroneous. One of the grounds lor the application was that Bertling’s counsel had in the course of ihe action, improperly mentioned the amount of damages claimed. Mr Dunn contended that this was not fair, and was not in accordance, with English practice. The motion for a new trial was dismissed.