The jury, at the hearing, were told by the Judge that no charge of fraud or conspiracy was made against the defendants; nor was it suggested that they intended or desired to do anything but serve the interests of those whom they believed they represented.
The jury found that both defendants had been guilty of negligence or breach of duty and awarded £1.000 against each on this heading.
They also found that the letters were defamatory, both as to the wording and innuendo, and that, in the writing of Messrs. Crocker's letter, ihere wss an indirect motive which destroyed "privilege." They assessed the damages for libel at £1.000 against each defendant.
It was upon these findings that the case now came before Mr. Justice Hawke for argument.
When he had heard arguments in another case, in his list. Mr. Justice Hawke said, he was going on circuit the next day and did not know whether he would be sitting in London again this term. He also understood that he was going on.circuit again on October 12 (when the Courts resume after the Long Vacatjon). In those circumstances he wondered whether counsel proposed to begin the argument that day Mr. D. N. Pritt, "Ko. (for Mr.
William Groom) said he did not think the matter ought to take very long.
Mr. Justice Hawke sdid he had been told that it, would take a day.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.