On Tuesday a verdict for £500 damages was returned in
a libel action brought by Miss Alexandra Knollys, daughter of Lord Knollys, against Tohn Bull, Limited, Mr. Horatio Bottomley, M.P., editor of John Bull, and Messrs. Odhams, the printers. The libel consisted of a statement at once absolutely false and most scandalous, for which the only defence put forward was that it was copied from a French paper. Lord Knollys and Lady Knollys having given evidence as to the great pain and annoyance to which they had been subjected by the publication of this cruel falsehood, counsel for defendants asked no questions and called no evidence, and the jury found their verdict without leaving the box. We desire to congratulate Lord and Lady Knollys and their daughter very sincerely on their public spirit and courage in going into the box and facing the disagreeable publicity of a trial in order to vindicate the right of private individuals to protection against malicious invention. They played the part of good citizens in an eminent degree by thus securing exposure and some measure of punishment for the per- petrators of a gross outrage.
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