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132 The law of agency.

should prevail, with regard to such an act as is charged

in this indictment, between proceedings which are civil

and proceedings which are criminal. I think there may

be nuisances of such a character that the rule I am apply-

ing here would not be applicable to them, but here it is

perfectly clear that the only reason for proceeding criminally

is that the nuisance, instead of being merely a nuisance

affecting an individual, or one or two individuals, affects

the public at large, and no private individual, without

receiving some special injury, could have maintained an

action. Then, if the contention of those who say the

direction is wrong is to prevail, the public would have

great difhculty in getting redress. The object of the

indictment is to prevent the recurrence of the nuisance."

Liability of a Principal for a Libel published by his

Agent. — Previous to Lord Campbell's Act, 1843 (6 & 7

Vict. c. 96), a principal was liable criminally, as well as

civilly, for any libel published by his agent or servant, in

the ordinary course of his employment, even though the

principal, e.g. a newspaper proprietor, was totally ignorant

of the particular publication. This rule of law frequently

worked great hardships upon newspaper proprietors ; and it

was therefore provided by section 7 of 6 & 7 Vict. c. 96, that

"Whensoever, upon the trial of any indictment or informa-

tion for the publication of a libel, under the plea of not

guilty, evidence shall have been given which shall establish

a presumptive case of publication against the defendant by

the act of any other person by his authority, it shall be

competent to such defendant to prove that such publica-

tion was made without his authority, consent, or know-

ledge, and that the said publication did not arise from

want of due caro or caution on liis jiart."

Liability of Principal for Breach of Parliamentary

Elections Law by his Agent. — A candidate oi- sitting M.P.

Is ic.S[)onsiblc, in a parliamentary sense, for all the acts of

his election agent ; and even though the authority of the

RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF PRINCIPAL AND AGENT. 133

principal is only proved to have extended to legal acts, yet

he will be held responsible for illegal acts done by such

agent, or by a sub-agent acting under the authority of the

chief agent, even though such acts be contrary to his express

Instructions. But a candidate or sitting m.P. Can only be

made liable in penalties, for the illegal acts of his agent,

when such acts are proved to have been done with the

actual knowledge and authority of such candidate or

sitting M.P.

Norwich case (1869), 1 O'M. & H. 8; here Martin, B.,

said ; " The law of agency which would vitiate an election

Is utterly different from that which would subject a can-

didate to a penalty or an indictment ; and the question of

his right to sit in Parliament has to be settled upon an

entirely different principle " — vide also, the Westminster

case (1869), 1 O'M. & H. 89, the Taunton case (1869), 1

O'M. & H. 181, and the Bridgivater case (1869), 1 O'M.

& H. 112.

Of course the principal's liability to answer criminally

for his agent's act, does not in any way exempt the agent

from criminal liability for his own act.

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