The Potteries Examiner : — 1879-09-06 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

THE ALLEGED. SUICIDE OF AHMED  KESEALY.  LIBELLING A REPORTER.  .T. F. Iggleden, reporter, London, Wan then sum. moned by Mr. Frank Allnutt for having wtitten a malicious and defamatory libel contained in a p ist.card concerning matters arising out of the reported suicide of Mr. Ahmed Rottenly. The post-card Was read over in Court, and contained several statements of a slanderous and malicious nature, one being that Mr. Al!mitt had •. upset the House of Commons by lying telegrams."— Mr. Allnutt said lie was a reporter for the Senttnel, and knew defendant very well. He was some time ago in this district engaged on a contemporary. On the nth of July witness received the post card which had been read in Court; it was dated from Holloway Prison (laughter). He found it at the office amongst other letters which had come that morning, and was exposed to the view of an .nue who wished to see it. C nupl .inant Ltd frequently seen Mr. Iggledeu's writing, and he be' tiered the post-card produced was in his handwriting. Mr. Iggleden hail a peculiar hand, and the writing on Lice post-card bore, in the mind of complainant, all the characteristics of his writing. Mr. Allnutt added that none of his telegrams had been brought before the House of Commons—tlaughter) —and stated that everything in the post-card was ridiculously antrae. In anawer to the charge defendant said be knew nothing whatever about the post.card, and was surmised tlmt the writing of it had been attributed to him He appealed to the Bench for the consideration of the Court ill consequence of his having been soddenly served with the summons, on coming to Burstein that morning to give evidence on behalf of his friend Ahmed Remaly, and he was somewhat surprised when he read the charge preferred against him.— dr. Allnutt was cross.exarniued as to the identity of the handwriting, and as to whether defendant mil ever shown any malice towards him—Defendant : Did you ever know we try to injure you? Do you think I would injure you. A. Well, if you ask me my opinion I should say you would if you had the chance.— Defendant (to the Stipendiary): I know nothing at all about the card.—The Stipendiary : Do I take that then as a plea of not guilty ?—Defend int (indignantly): Certainly.—The Stipendiary : Well, Mr Allautt seems satisfied that the handwriting is yours, and if in evidence he proves it to be yours, I shall have no alternative but to commit you for trial, sad send the case to a jury-Defendant here explaima that he had been on the con. tinent. and that it was while he was at Brussels that he saw the announcetnent of the reported suiciale.—Magistestes Clerk : Do you mean to say you were abroad at the time this card was posted l'—Defeo lant: I one not quite sure about that, because [(ion t kuow the day the 15th of July would fall on.—ln support of the identity of the writing, complainant called Mr. G. T. Platt, of the Examiner, who expressed his opinion that Mt writing on the post-card WAS very mach like the ordinary hand. writing of Mr. 'agleam, and expressed himself very definitely on the point of similarity between the writing con.ained in the libel. and the writing he had seen of Mr. Iggleden when engaged in the same office —Mr. W. It. Tooth, reporter, also identified the writing as balm; very much like that of clufendant—For the defence Mr. Ahmed John Ken lily was called, and in his evidence be said he did not think the writing bore any resemblance to the handwriting of defendant, whom he lead known for some time, and with whose writing he Was very familiar.—Cross-examined by Mr. Altuntt witness said he thought he could swear positively that the handwriting was not that of defendaut.—The Stipendiary here intimated that upon such evidence as this he thought himself justified in adjourning the case.— Defendant replied that ii,, had come from London, and was anxious to get back —(langhter). To sere expense, and acting on the advice of some of his friends, lie thought be would apologise to Mr. Allnutt, and pay the costs —(laughter).—The Stipendiary yon menu by that that you are guilty P--Defendant: No, certainly not; I never heard of it till to.day.—The Stipendiary Then what have you to apologise for ?—Defendant Be. cause Mr. Alluutt seems to think I wrote it—laughter). dr. Allnutt I cannot, of Course, accept any apology unitss the defendant admits the handwriting. The Magistrates' Clerk Did you write that post card or not ? —Defendant : I did; and I have been informed that Mr. Alluutt is willing to accept an apology.—Mr. Alluutt C .rtainly I will.—Tim Stipendiary 'lion you are guilty ?—Defendant Yes.—The Stipendiary: Of course if dr. Alloutt thinks proper to accept an apology he eau do to; bat I mast tell you you have been very fortunate indeed in getting oat of it so easily.--Mr. Allnutt : I have no ill.feeliog in the matter at all, and only took  these proceedings for In, own protection.—The Atipendiary : Oh, yen; you have acted very properly in the matter.—The defendant then apologised, and paid the costs (10s.), and the case then terminated.