Pumpkins As Media For Libel

The Paria correspondent of tbe London Daüji Teiegrapfi writes to that joimial: "Bef ore tlio Kightli Ohamber of Oorreotianal Pólice a kiiotty question wus (ried B few days ago. Is a man'a garden e. public place in view of the libel hnre, and eau the yefjetablea giowimg thora ba properiy describcd ae oïgeraa of publicity i A market gardener oí 01ainart raiscd thoso inquii"ies. He owns a plot of grouud wherein, among otlier delioacies, he has píaated pximpkins. That nutritive, bilt ratJier tasteless, vegetal le requirea no atteiition. The market pardener gavt! himself little lieed about his jmuipkius, seeing them thrivo and kw11 day by day. Last September it ocemrred to him that the fruit must be neavly iix and at early dawii lie went to examine. The lirst pumpkin startled him ; some hand as patiënt iis maliguant liad inscribed upon it his opinión that M. Bernard was, in fact, something which no gentleman would desire to be. During the pumpkin 's tonderest age of iimocence had these words been traced, aud they had grown with its growth, re] tailing their caluniny íarger and largor every day. M. Bernard tunied up another, and found a like inscription. Kvery pumpkin in the plot bore its libel. Furious, the market gardener sought liis enomy and served him with n summons. The carne on for trial, but there was a want of prooi. One of the witnesses , cited, after listening attentively to the ! ! course of evidence, perceived on a ' den what it was all about, and exclaimed innocently: 'Why, it was I who scratched the pumpkins. ' Promptly he ; found himsclf in the doek, and iiow we hare had the second trial. Counsel for ' the defense argued tlini there had been no publication of the libel, such as is conteraplated liy the law. The Court, however, decided otherwisp, shice Éhe garden was proved to have no hedge about it, and the pumpkins had for months exposed their calumnies to any one who chanced to look at them. And so the engraver of vegetables was con; demned to L8 fine.