The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-25 00:00:00

JONES v. HALES.

(Front the Daily News)
Our readers will perceive that the action of
Jones v. Hales has terminated in a verdict of 150/.
damages against the proprietors of this journal.
Even independently of the consciousness that the
complaints of losers are only laughed at, we have no
wish to impugn the fairness of the trial or the cor-
rectneis of the law as laid down by the learned
judge. Our ground of defence was correctly stated
by the learned counsel who so ably conducted our
case. It was simply this, that in communicating
the facts constituting the alleged libel we have not
transcended that duty imposed upon us as public
journalists, of ket ping the public informed upon all
matters of general interest, sedulously taking care
that in so doing we allow nothing to appear that is
prompted by malice or inspired by an intention to
inflict injury on individual character.
For the precise terms of the alleged libel, and
the nature of the facts adduced in evidence, we
refer our readers to the report of the trial.
Reviewing the whole, we defy any unprejudiced
mind to arrive at any other conclusion than that
which we know to be the truth, viz., that in
communicating the rumours with which Paris
was then filled as to the cause of Mr. BrettelPs
death, and the facts on which those rumours were
founded, wo were actuated by no kind of per-
sonal malice against Dr. Jones, of whom we then
knew nothing, and were guilty of only the moat
trifling inaccuracies of statement.
Our correspondent stated that Mr. Brettell had
died within two hours after the administration of
the powder by Dr. Jones : this was true. He stated
that the body was exhumed for the purpose of post
mortem, examination : this was true. He stated
that Dr. Jones was at the time of writing under
surveillance : this was also strictly true, the state
of surveillance baying ceased directly after the post
mortem examination had terminated. He stated
tbat the whole of Mr. Brettell's fortune had been
left to an English lady who was no relation or
connexion—this, again, was not exactly accurate,
as only half the deceased's fortune was thus dis-
posed of. Finally, our correspondent wound up
by stating, ." I cannot help thinking that there
has been no wilful poisoning in the case."
Had Dr. Jones adopted the usual course, and
applied for an explanation or apology, on the ground
that this communication was calculated, if unex-
plained, to prove injurious to his character, it was
scarcely necessary to observe that according to our
invariable practice on all occasions of the kind we
should have afforded him instant and ample repara-
tion. Instead of doing so, he proceeded at once to
serve a writ, and our only course was to fall back
upon the defence that the paragraphs complained of
had been inserted withou the shadow of a shade of
malicious intent, and with the sole desire of com-
municating intelligence of general interest. In what
way those passages of our Correspondent's letter
could possibly be perverted into a charge of wil-
ful murder against Dr. Jones, entirely passes our
comprehension. The plaintiff's counsel of course
urged this view of the case ; the learned Judge
seemed partially to adopt it. That the jury acted
upon it we can-scarcely believe, for had they done
so the damages must have been tenfold the incon-
siderable amount they actually gave. Their feeling
probably was, that though there had been no ma-
lice, there had been some want of caution. It is
not to be expected. that on this latter point we
should agree with them. We know that there was
no desire to nfirct injury ; and we still think there
was no culpable negligence. It is the first roint
the latter
w hoever, which mainly concerns us ; on
we must be content to leave the decision
those in whom it has been wisely vested by the
1. aw.

MIIIIDEB errsSurcznE—On Tuesday, the 23d, a moat
melancholy suicide and murder was committed at Walling.
woman named Corner, wife of one of the coun-
ford.
try postman, was seen to take her three children (the
as if going for a walk, at
eldest a boy of about eight and the other two much
not return all night, am
ayboouuntgepo,tcorocakrd. s tAhse bsrhiedgdeld
alarm was raised; and after searching the river for some
One the bodies of the three children were discovered cold
and dead. After a further search the body of the mother
was found, also dead. The bodies were removed to the
Tovcn Arms, there to await the coroner's inquest. Mrs..
Corner was a most respectable and industrious woman,
much respected by all who knew her ,and the shocking
event has cast a gloom over the whole town, which is
seldom disturbed by anything so fearft) as this sad 00•
iI currence.