The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-06-25 00:00:00

AN EXTRAORDINARY LIBEL SUIT.

In a case tried on Saturday in the Queen's Bench,
the plaintiff, Horace Moore, who -formerly carried on
business as a corn merchant in London, sued Mr. B.
J. Bosher, a pawnbroker and boot dealer, of Duke-
street, Manchester-square, to recover damages for
libel. The defendant pleaded privilege, justification,
and conn-erclaimed for damages, asserting that the
plaintiff had wrcnged his daughter Margaret. The
words complained of were contained in a letter written
to a mutual friend in whose employment the plaintiff
then was. They imputed that the plaintiff was
guilty of gross immorality, and described aim as
a coward and a villain. Mr. Rose Jones appeared
for the plaintiff, while the defendant was repre-
sented by Mr. Digby Seymour, Q.C., and Mr.
Etherington Smith. It appeared that in the early
part o'' 1884, the plaintiff, who was then carrying on
his business in the Harrow-road, became acquainted
with the defendant's daughter who was tbei 15
years of age, the plaintiff being 22. In August, 1885,
they became engaged, and in December' 1886, the
plaintiff gave up his business and went to ,Norwich as
assistant to a Mr.Earnshaw, who was the secretary of
a local hospital. Considerable correspondence 'op.
paired to have taken place between the defendant and
Mr. Earnshaw respecting the plaintiff, and ultimately
the letter complained of was written to the latter.
While the plaintiff was at Norwich he occasanally
ran up to London, and .t was alleged that the
seduction took place in March, 1886, when
he came to attend the celebration of %ties
Bother's seventeenth birthday, a child being born in
November. Shortly after the date of the a leged
seduction, the plaintiff wrote to defeniant'e daughter
terminating the engagement, stating that it was the
best course considering what had taken place between
himself and Mr. Bosher, who did not approve of the
engagement. In the letter the plaintiff stated that
he was a common, low fellow, not worthy of her
4ove, and said be took that course out of respect for
her. Miss Bosher wrote expressing astonishment,
and addressed the plaintiff as "Dear Horace" "for
the last "You little know," she said, " what
a" woman can bear; though she is frail in body,
she is strong in soul, and will not flinch though
the sword pierce her heart." On the 19th of
Aeguet Miss Bosher wrote to the plaintiff, stating
that her father had turned her frora hame in conse-
quence of her condition, and expressing confidence
that in her hour of need the plaintiff would not desert
her, for she was not strong, and could not bear dis-
grace. The plaintiff wrote denying that he had mis-
connucted himself with her, and stating that lie was
willing to take his oath before God that that assertion
was true. Miss Bother replied that his letter had
changed her from " a simple trusting fool to a bitter
revengeful woman." As to damages, the plaintiff
alleged that he had lost his eitaation in consequence
of the libel ; and the defendant, that in consequence
of plaintiff's conduct he had lost the services of his
daughter. The jury returned a verdict for the
defendant on the claim, and also for the counter-
claim, with £230 damages. Judgment fcr the defend-
ant for £250 accordingly.