Semi-weekly independent., 1896-03-25
A QUEER LIBEL CASE.

"Now let us go one step at time"
said the solicitor You want TO pro-
ceed against Nit Svendeleri for libel,
j underestimate
''Yes, l do, and I'm sure shall get
heavy damages. answered Mr. Hedge
hog. Ills IibelS are Of the grossest
AUST wait. now" put in the sOlici-
tor. ''Thcse." and he held up num-
ber of postcards and letters. "are the
iibess you complain of"
will deny"
-Nevcr mind now Just answer my
questions as shortly As you can. Are
Ahere any others"
mot as far as I know"
- Size they are all addressed TO you.
veiopes are not libels ar all, 50 we
needn't trouble about them
''How's that" asked Mr. Hedgehog
You see there Is no publication
aoiody SAW them but Yourself. or those
40 whom you showed them With the
posi- si-cards il is different The law pre-
sunues. you see. that Tue postman reads
all The posi- cards that go through his
hands. and SO there is publication to a
third party Wrll. LET us look at the
postcards"
They're not half as bad as the let
ters." muiicred l,r Hedgehog. discon-
tenicdiy.
That can't be helped" replied the
solicitor This one rtfns Who stole
the Roughshod Jewels II was Emery
'Edgehog. was it, OF course not. He's
no thief: he's ouly private detective
tWeil. that's strong enough. l think.
THE others, see. are much the same"
YES, much the same"
| "And they're all inonymousr
! "Xes-aII."
But you're sure you can prcve the
rsriiing is Svcndeleri'sy"
''I'm sure [ can-Iu fact. know lie
wont deny it,"
How do you KNOW tilat?" asked the
Soiicitcr. sharply
''Well. the fact is" said Hedgehog,
nesitating slightly he daren't- At
any rate. I'm sure he won't"
The solicitor was silent for u mo-
ment. during which he scrutinzed
Hedgehog kcenly
mir. Sycndelcri is not n very renuta-
bic person." he then said. "hut he
hasn't usually been reckoned a fool.
and why, not being fool. he should
write such silly postcards passes my
comprehension
Hes very furious with me-" an
swered MIR. Hedgehog You see. Mr..
Pitt" hc went on in 4 confidential
zone. "him and me have had a lot OF
dealings together and lately we had a
row. and now he's fairly mad. and
doesn't care what he does TO get re-
yenee. That's the way OF them Jews.
Once you have fred Il writ into him
he'll get cooler and apologize aud pay
up"
DO you Know anything about these
Jewels" asked The solicitor. "A trifie
suspiciously.
Not us mucI as he does" answered
0lr Hedgehog. with Il sly wink
What do You mcanT' demanded the
Volicitor. Does he know anything
about them"
mo. not as far rs know" said Mr..
Hedgehog, hastily. 81 was only jok-
3ng"
The solicitor again was silent mo-
ment. and again he licenly scrutiniZed
the private detective. At last he
spoke
II don't altogether like this job" he
said There seems 10 De a lot of han
Rypsnky about it."
at won't give you any trouble" cried
Mr.. Hedgehog I'm sure Svendeleri
FWO0't let it come into court. Your
chief work will be running up your bill
of costs and y0u know Svendeleri's
good for thousands"
mr Pitt reflected for moment.
well. III issue it," lie said. "and in
saruct counsel to settle a statement of
Claim"
Three weeks later Mr.. Hedgehog. in
GespOnse 10 note from Messrs Pitt &
Nox. attended their office in Bedford
SOW. Dir. Pitt again saw him After
Abfs NSuhi 6itt'iD7S Dti. u ~ 1I1lOTlllpU
him that they had received the de-
fensc III the action.
( Does he deny he wrote the letters2"
asked MIR. Hedgehog.
''Ns, ne does not, answered Mr.. Pitt.
az knew he dare not" cried hIr.
UsedgehOg, exultantly.
s'The defense MIR SvendeIerl has set
np." s:rid the solicitor. lis what we
lawyers call a justification"
whats that asked Mr. Hedgehog.
at is TO the effect that the action
hsbes not lie. because the libel is true
m fact
The private detective started and
turned pale.
You don't mean 10 say" he exclaim-
ed. that Svendeleri says it's true
Saoie the ROughshOd diamOnds?'
That's precisely what he does say"
answered the solicitor. calmly.
-Well. of all the impudencer' cried
e1s. Hedgehog. as he gasped for breach