Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-11-25
THE PRINCE-CARRINGT LIBEL
SUIT AGAINST THE STAR.
The Speculative Partnership Called
Upon 10 Divide Costs In
stead of Spells.

stead of Spells.
The suit of William Prince against the Even
ing star Newspaper Company for libel, NEW
Uial,l damages 500, 900, was entered upon Tues
day, November 10, in the Circuit Court of this
District, Justice Cartier presiding. Messrs T.. g.
and j. {. Darlington appeared for the plaintiff;
Nsssrs. Riddle, Miller and f.. l.. Stanton for the
defence.
The evidence was continued from our Satur-
days report, as follows.
TESTIMONY OF j. T. K. PLANT, PoR DEFENCE.
Mr.. j. T. n Plant a witness for the defend
ant, testified "a follows:
BY Mr.. Riddle:-Q. Let me inquire whether
at the time OF the transaction referred 10, you
were magistrate in the District here? A. 1
.. DO you know the plaintiff? Aldo.
9. VIII you relate what he wanted TO have
done, il anything, reference TO a certain al
legged counterfeit bin which he claimed to have
been parsed by Mrs. Hume?
THE PIAISTIPF oNTRADICTED.
A. He stated that n lady whom he understood
was Mrs Hume, had passed upon him a bill
which he claimed was a counterfeit $40 national
bank nCte, and that he desired TO have an officer
me in the hands of MIR. Bennett, he being a
constable, and being in the room at the time.
he stated positively that he desired it collected,
and that Mr.. Bennett was to say TO Mrs. Hume
that if il was not settled
OTHER STEPS WOULD BE TAKEN.
e. Did he say anything about having her
tCTfeit sic bill, and that the proper steps would
be taken to collect it il it was not paid--or
something to that effect.
q. What was said, if anything, about Prince
being sent for if she did not pay it? A. Well.
he TO be informed at once what she would
agree TO do, and what she did do. was in
structed to take no steps at that time.
q. What became OF that note? A. The note is
IN my possession now, sir; examined the note
myself, and 1t had very bad appearance, and
1 asked him how Ii came in the appearance ii
was in, and he said that in folding the note-it
had evidently been folded Often-the note had
split, and that he had taken some O this patent
gum paper and had pasted it on the back aud
that being in . hurry to have it dry he had
taken tailor's goose and put it on the note,
and the goose being pretty hot the note had
stuck, and burnt il.
q. Do you remember what occurred between
MIR. Hume and yourself about it? A. Certain.
ly, sir. MIR. Hume called, and am rather I'M
der the impression that called once at his store;
advised Mr.. Hume that sooner than have any
trouble about the matter that it would be better
for him to give good bill, even if his wife had
never passed it.
Q. Which be did? A. Which he did, and /
turned il over to the officer.
q. You say the officer was Mr.. Bennett? A.
Yes, sir.
Cross-ezaminotion.-By Mr.. Carrington:-O.
Yes, sir.
q. A very clever, gentlemanly man, believe
since 'Gl, believe.
q. Do you Der when Prince called to
see you, that he said he believed Mrs Hume
had passed this note upon him unintentionally,
and he had been to see her himself, and that he
wanted you to place il in the hands of some gem
tlemaniy collector for him, or words to that
effect? A. i recollect distinctly that Prince
told NE he wanted that money collected.
Q. Do yeu recollect anything to which 1
called your attention? A. No, sir.
q. What was said? A. i don't recollect the
word gentlemanly was used.
q. Did he ask you for warrant
at that time? A. He did not
-. Did You issue a warrant? A. L did not.
q. Then you placed this in Benefits hand
for collection? A. For collection.
q. Then If was placed in his hands as an
agent for collection and not as constable to
serve a process. A. He had no right to serve
any process.
Q. Did not Mr.. Prince say that he had been
TO see Mrs. Hume twice himself? A. / think
he said once or twice; would not swear posi-
lively abOutit
q. Didn't he say that he wa. engaged himself
or words to that effect? A. No, sir; he said he
wanted that bill redeemed that was passed upon
him as a counterfeit bill.
warrant for the arrest OF Mrs. Hume; nor die
he ask you to issue any warrant for arrest upon
a civil process? A. No, sir.
q. Simply 10 collect it? A. That was all.
q. Did you show Mr.. Bennett to him, or did
he know Mr.. Bennett himself? A. Mr.. Bennett
was in the office at the time.
q. And you recommended MIR. Bennett az a
roper officer? A. don't, recollect saying a
word TO him.
Q. Do you reco!lect Mr.. Prince saying that
MIR. Hume was excited about it?
WHAT PRINCE DIDN'T SAY.
A. dom recOllect his saying that.
q. And was afraid he might take some offense,
and that he did not want to give the lady any
ofiense. ard he had rather that some man whom
YOU would recommend TO him would discharge
this Office? A. i don't think Mr.. Prince did
mention any further than that it was the wife
q. DO you recollect when that was? A. do
not; it was some tine, think, though, in the
spring of 1870.
Q. Some time before the appearance of this
article in the Starr in reference to it? A
Oh, OF course.
q. Some seven months before? A. don't
know how long before.
William II. Bennett, witness for the defend
ant, was sworn and examined.
By Mr.. Riddle:--Were you an OIL GER in the
spring OF ls7o? A. Yes. sir.
O. State with as much particularly as yeu
are able what occurred in reference to this
transaction? A. Mr.. Prince came down there
one afternoon, and under q state Of intOxic alton
and excitement together, said that Mrs. Hume
him, and that
HE WANTED WARRANT
for her-something to that effect, or he wanted
once and couldn't get it; 1 didn't know what
Mrs Hume il was, and he gave me the direc-
ton, and went over there to collect the bill; 1
Hume; when found out who Mrs Hume was l
excused myself and left; then went down to
the store and told Mr.. Hume of the transaction.
Q.Yousay that when he came there he was in
what condition? A. About half drunk and ex-
cited.
Q. When you were directed to 20 there what,
II anything, did he tell you to say to Mrs.
Hume il she did not pay this? A. He told me to
cay If she did not pay this bill that
eHE SHOULD BIB ARRESTED
for passing a counterfeit bill.
q. Do you remember whether in your inter-
view with Nr Hume, you told him what Prince
had said? A. Yes, sir. 1 told Mr.. Hume that
had been sent over there by Mr. Prince to COL
lect this bill, or TO arrest his wife if it was not
paid, sndhe went over to Mr.. Plants Office. In
the meantime-l think the next day-Mrs
Prince came down to Plants Office and
cried lObjected to.
q. When you called upon Mrs. Hume and
learned who the lady was, you excused your
self? A. said, :" beg your pardon, madam;
L didn't know that you were the party" and
excused myself and left the house; then | went
and called on Mr.. Hume.
Cross ezdminGtion.-By Mr.. CarringtOn:-Q
In detailing what Mr.. Prince said I'm reference
to the collection Of this note, are you giving the
conversation he had in Plants Office? A. am
giving the conversation he had in Plants office
with me.
q. MIR. Plant present at the time? A. Mr..
Plant was at his desk; he had walked out Of the