ALLEGED LIBEL

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14029, 4 April 1919, Page 5

ALLEGED LIBEL

£IOOO DAMAGES CLAIMED. VERDICT FOR DEFENDANT, Ja_m --, l. - • At the Supreme. Court, Hamilton, the case in which Daisy Lydia Pissctto. of Poto, near Taumarunui, claimed from John Maher, an ex-police constable, £IOOO for alleged slander, was continued yesterday. Messrs "Singer and Anderson appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Mays for defendant. The case was heard before judge and jury. The alleged libel was contained in a statement allegedly made to A. W. Fleming, farmer, at Taumarunui, in April, 1917, that "plaintiff's child is suffering from a certain disease, and plaintiff must have it too." Counsel addressed the jury at considerable length. In his summing up, His Honor commented upon the delay in instituting proceedings. It was the recognised custom, though it was not compulsory, for notice to be issued upon a defendant in such actions that proceedings were contemplated, but in this instance the first intimation Maher received was a writ claiming £IOOO damages some 20 months after the alleged slander had been uttered. This had placed the defendant at a disadvantage in the preparation of his case. The jury, after a retirement of about half an hour, returned a verdict in fnmur of defendant. Mr Mavs apnlied for costs, which His Honor granted on the highest scale.