The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-18


cism on Griffith Gaunt, has filed its response,
which severely damages the literary reputation
of Mr.. Reade. The defense concludes with the
following declaration
'These defendants, for q further and separate
defense to each Of the causes OF action set forth
ages that this plaintiff may be entitled TO re-
ceive, repeat all the facts and allegations here.
inbefore set forth, and they also allege that the
story entitled Griffith Gaunt; or, Jealousy is
identical in all the prominent features of Its plot
and in all it's distinguishing incidents, with two
other stories or novels, each of which was writ
ten and published by other than the plalntit
aHn RE9e 10 Sh9 tRe sd Stories bsg
LIE %liKis Collins gSDllS6sS s in England
of the book entitled the Queen of Hearts, in
the year 1865, or thereabouts, by the publishing
entitled 'iThe Frenehman of Two Wives" pub,
llshed in the magazine called Household Words.
December 6, 1856, the same being volumel4, No.
$50, of the said magazine called Litteps Ltv-
ing Age, January II, 1867.
"And the defendants further say, that por-
tion of - the opening of - for the prosecu-
ton, is set forth in that portion OF 'Grifith
Gaunt' which narrates the trial, being chapter
- of the said work. is Identical In Language
with q portion Of the opening speech d Of Hon;
reported in HowelPs State Trials vol xviii, p.
1l18. That such trial was had in England long
previous to the writing and publication Of
fendanIs are informed and believe that there
are other similar identities between other por-
tions of the said 'Grif1th Gaunp and the
works of other writers published prior to the
writing and publishing OF 'Griffith Gaunt;'
and the defendants say that the plaintiff makes
no acknowledgment of his Indebtedness to the
sources named herein for any portion of the
said Griffith Gaunt,' nor by quotation marks,
or any other means, indicates that the whole of
the said work, In Its conception and execution,
is not of his own production.
"And these defendants further answering,
allege, in mitigation of any damages that
the plaintiff may be entitled to receive by
reason of any of the publications set forth in
the complaint, that the work entitled Christie
Johnstone,' of which the plaintif is the re-
puted author, and which was published long
previous to the publication of 'Grifnth Gaunt,
is also identical In plot and incident in many
respects with certain other novel. entitled
John de Castro,' which said aforementioned
novel was written and published about the
year 1902, long before the said Christie John
stone was written or published, and the author
of the said aforementioned work did not ac-
knowledge his Indebtedness to the above. men,
toned John de Castro nor by any means
indicate that the whole of the said work In It's
conception and execution was not of his own
production.
land the plaintiffs say that the said Identities
in respect to both Griffith Gaunp and Chris
tie Johnstonen - together with others of similar
character TO be found in other works Of which
injured the reputation of the plaintiff as an
author, and subjected the plaintiff to the suspi-
ciOn and belief in the minds of many that he
has been guilty OF plagiarism, and that such
suspicion is well founded; and that plagiarism
is regarded as an offense which justly deprives
the perpetrator of respect as an author; and
therefore the defendants urge the same in miti-
CATION of any damages which the plaintiff may
be entitled TO receive for the alleged injuries TO
his reputation as an author by the defendants"