Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-02-22
Largest Circulation in the District
Reading Matter on Every Page.
WASHINGTON CITY:
Thu RSDAY. 81, Is72
I.ibel-Suit Abuses

We presume there was not a lawyer presen, in
the court Tnom Yesterday who was not surprised
by the verdict given by the Jury for the plaintiff
IN the suit Of William Prince against the Star
Newspaper Company; and this surprise was fully
shared by the community, az we have occasion
70 know by assurances from all quarters. There
was in the publication of which Prince com
planned meme of the elements going To make M
libel. II was shown that this item found its
way into the paper through the ordinary local
channel, in perfect good faith, no person con-
neeted with Its publication having any shadow
of animus against Mr.. Prince. 1t was shown
hat the editor of The STAR on having his
attention called to the publication by Mr. Prince
at once wrote ont and published a correction
vOrded in exact accordance with what he under
stood 10 be the plaintiffs wishes. Ii was
shown that 80 far from there being any
malice in the matter that the relations between
the STAR company and Prince were of an en-
tirely friendly nature. he being an advertiser in
the paper and they having no wish or motive to
DO him harm. Prince, himself, testified that he
did not believe the STAR intended to injure him
by the publication. Nor was he able to prove
that he had been injured 10 the extent of
penny by it. Neither could it be shown that he
had been injured in reputation in the slightest
degree by the publication, or that it was calcu-
lated TO bring upon him any obloquy or dis
grace. That the jury, in view OF these facts
should bring In verdict OF IS 900 in his favor is
astounding.
Really if this sort of verdict is to be the rule
the business of newspaper publishing already
Onerous enough, will be about the most harass-
ing and undesirable one going. Every newspa-
per OF any responsibility must count upon being
made the prey of a set of harpies, searching
for
which can be twisted by legal ingenuity into
libel. The antiquated and narrow minded libel
law, devised at a time when the idea of a free
active, and energetic press had never been con-
Ceiyed, affords singular facilities for the leeches
who seek 20 bleed newspapers having any blood
IN them For few dollars libel suit can be
entered, and held over the heads of publishers
TO invite compromise to save annoyance; and
there are always plenty OF speculative LAWYERS
ready to prosecute such cases on the chance of
getting their fees out of the damages II i
scarcely possible TO publish an item OF news of
any kind that will not afford some openinp for
these enterPrising gentlemen TO ferret out a
claim tor damages; and il Is a question for the
press OF the country to consider whether il is NOT
about time, having fought the battles of every
body else against oppression and abuses, IL
should fight it, own battle against the abuse and
SIIieSelOH VI 'He ioei law, under whose techni-
cslities IT is possible for jury to give such
verdict a. that of yesterday. The issue is not
whether certain sum Of money shall or shall
not be paid in this case, but whether newspa-
pers hereafter TO be published shall have anv-
thing in them or not. IL this verdict is 70 he
sustained, then every man who may assert that
his name has been unfavorably mentioned in
the current news OF the day, has the journals of
the country by the throat. This is question in
Which the public a. well as newspaper publish
ers are concerned, and we are determined that
IL shall be fairly met and fully understood.