Court Of Exchequer, Frida...
mkIr. W ILLIAMSX on a former day obtained a rule, calling upon the plaintiff to show cause iVhy a new trial should not talte Place in this case. It was an action for slander. The cause was tried before Mr. Sertgantla osanquet at the last asesAes for Taunton, and a ver- dict was giVen for the plaWiuiff, with 4001. damages. The circum- stances out of which the action rose were these :-The plaintiffsome time since proceeded from London to Bath, and established himself there as a tailor; and by some means or other was enabled to sell his clothes at a cheaper ratt than that usually charged by persons in hbs business. Tqhis gave umbrage io the tailors of Bath, of whom the defendant vras one. The defendant vented his spleen in a very un- Justifiable manner, by saying that the plaintiff was a bankrupt_ that he had compeunded with his creditors for five shillings in the pound-antd that no person who iristed him could e'x- pec.t ever to be paid, &c.; all which tended to injure the plaintiff it his business. It appeared, too, upon the trial, that the defendant had further declared that he and five other persons had agreed to subscribe 1001. each to bear the plaintiff down. The principal ground on which n new trial was demanded was, that the plaintiff's attorney had declared to the defendant, that if he would deliver up the authors of the slsander, he iould pro. ceed against them in pTeference to him. The defendant accordingly gave up the authors, but the plsintiff, notwithstanding, brought the action against the defendant. It was likewise urged that the damages were excessive. This morning MLr. Sergeant PELL appeared to show cause why a new trial should not be granted, and was proceeding in his address to the Court when, Mr. W VILLIAMS stated, that if the Court would be good enough to allow the case to stand over till Atonday, he believed an arrange- ment miOht be effected between the parties. He would write to his client that evening, and should receive his answer on Monday morning. Mr. PELL said that he would advise his client to accept 3001. damages. M1r. Baron GARRow.-And It will not be going too far to add that other persons think that a very reasonable proposal. The case was then ordered to stanl over till Mlonday. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, FnfltAy, JULY 2. FLAYIERTY V. SIARLAND.