* * * * On Friday, July 20th, the Court
of Appeal gave judg- ment in Dr. Marie Stopes's appeal against the decision of the Lord Chief Justice in her libel action. The Lords Justices allowed the appeal, which was that the judg- ment of the court below should be set aside and judgment entered in her favour. The result is what we feel the jury intended by their verdict. They considered that Dr. Marie Stopes had been libelled and that she had written nothing fairly open to censure. When they gave her £100 damages they meant a verdict in her favour, and not the ironic verdict of a farthing damages. The effect of the decision will be to make it clear not only that birth-control is no crime, but also that those who recommend such control with no depraved intent, but out of a sincere belief that they are doing a public service, have a right to be unmolested by charges of obscenity.
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