The Sun. — 1862-07-08 (London, England)

THE ' SUN LONDON, TUESD -"A V EVENING JULY -8, 1E62.  CHARGE OF LIBEL! AGAINE7 A REPORTER.---(THIS DAY.)  Mr. Andrew Gray, a reporter, appeared at Bow-street this morning, before Mr. Corrie, on a summons charging him with having, on the Bth of June, unlawfully, wickedly, and maliciously published a certain false, scandalous libel, containing divers false, scandalous, and malicious matters and things of and concerning Henry Richard Phillips. Mr. Metcalfe, the barrister, appeared for Mr. Phillips, and, in opening the case, said the libel complained of appeared in the Weekly Times newspaper on the Bth of June, and the learned gentleman then proceeded to narrate the facts connected with the recent inquiry which took place a short time ago at a coroner's inquest, held at Kensalgreen, in consequence of certain scandalous rumours in circulation against Mr. Phillips, the result of which was a decision that there was not the slightest foundation for the charges made against his client. An application had been made to the proprietors of the Weekly Times respecting the libel, which appeared in their newspaper, headed " Alleged Murder by a Gentleman," and they furnished the name of the defendant as the person who had provided the manuscript of the article.  Mr. Metcalfe then read the article, which he said had been written in the regular penny-a-line style, and calculated to inflame the public mind. Mr. Corrie—A "sensation" paragraph? Mr. Metcalfe said that was so, and having concluJed reading the article in question, said a more false and scandalous charge, viz., that his client, Mr. Richard Phillips, had poisoned his wife and hastily buried her body to prevent discovery," could not be invented. He believed it would be said that there was no malice, and that the defendant was sorry, but as in consequence of the article Mr. Phillips's life had been jeopardized, the defendant must take the whole responsibility of his own act. He should, therefore, ask that the defendant might be fully committed to take his trial. _ _  Mr. Robert Palmer, sub-editor of the Weekly Times, said—l have seen the paragraph referred to in that newspaper of that day, headed " Alleged Murder by a Gentleman." I produce the manuscript. It was furnished by Mr. Gray. It is in his handwriting, and signed by him. I altered the heading of the article from " Allegation' of Murder, &c., to " Alleged" Murder, &c. I also made some other alterations, but they were merely verbal. He brought the copy to me on a Friday night he said it was a very extraordinary case, and he was well aware of all the details. He said it had created a great sensation. He did not say where he had got the facts. He impressed upon me that it was a correct report, and that he knew the details.  Cross-examined—l have known the defendant for six or seven years. I have always taken his copy when it came in time. I did not look through the copy. He said I might rely on it. We have been threatened with an action for libel. I gave up the name of the defendant because it was applied for. It is usual to give up the names of persons under such circumstances. I have been sub .editor for eight years, and the present is .the only instance in which the name of the writer cf an article has been applied for. lam certain it is the usual practice in newspaper offices to give up the names of persons furnishing certain articles. By Mr. Metcalfe—lf any other person than an accredited reporter had furnished the copy of the article in. question, I should not have inserted it. Mr. Beard addressed the bench for defendant, and urged that the object of Mr. Phillips would be accomplished without prosecuting the defendant, who had for 15 years been engaged as a reporter on the. London Press. Mr. Metcalfe persisted in asking for a committal.  Mr. Corrie then committed the defendant, but admitted him to bail, in his own recognisance of £lOO, to appear at the next session of the Central Criminal Court.