SECOND EDITION. ALLEGED LIBEL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160812, 20 November 1920, Page 11

SECOND EDITION. ALLEGED LIBEL.

(For United Press Association.) WELLINGTON,. Nov. 20." Ap the Supreme Court' to-day, Before Bug John Salmond, James Furniss, a fytner at Huntly, claimed damages for alleged libel from the proprietors of tit Dominion, the New Zealand Herand the Auckland Weekly News. The statement complained of, was to the effect that plaintiff was “a mental case.” Plaintiff claimed £IOOO from the Wellington Publishing Co. (proprietors of the Dominion), and £2OOO from Wilson’s and Horton (New Zealand Herald and Wfcekly News). Mr H. H. Cornish appaared for plaintiff, and Mr A. W. Blair for defendants, A jury of twelve was empannelled. Mr Cornish explained that the statement appeared in the report of a maintenance case, Bartley v. Bartley. The statement, which was attributed to a lawyer in the case, and the only question at issue was the amount of damages to be awarded. The statement originally appeared in the Dominion, and was Copied into the New Zealand Herald and Weekly News. Plaintiff, giving evidence, said he enlisted on December-, .1914, and, during two years’ absence, had seen service in Egypt and Gallipoli, losing his right eye, and practically his right hand. The published libel caused him concern ana worry. The papers published the name as “Furness,” whereas he spelt his name “Fumiss.” Mr Blair argued that the damage done had not been as great as if the name had been spelt correctly. Plaintiff admitted that the papers published apologies, but said they did it out of policy and not for his sake. , Two witnesses gave evidence as to plaintiff’s good standing in the community. This closed the plaintiff’s case.

£l5O DAMAGES. WELLINGTON, November 20. In the libel case, the jury awarded plaintiff .£l5O daniages, .£IOO to be paid lid the Dominion, with costa on the Invest scale, and ,£SO between the N.Z. literald and + he Weekly News, with TOsfcs on the highest scale.