The Sun. — 1857-06-25 (London, England)

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 correctneis 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 personal 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 disposed 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 unexplained, 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 reparation. 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 communicating intelligence of general interest. In what way those passages of our Correspondent's letter could possibly be perverted into a charge of wilful 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 inconsiderable amount they actually gave. Their feeling probably was, that though there had been no malice, 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 counford. 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.