St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-04-19
A Notable Libel Suit.
Important Opinion of Judge Brady.

Important Opinion of Judge Brady.
For Il number of Years the publishers
of the american IgrjcultWist have de
voted some space i'll nearly every mum
Der. in exposing certain Swindlcrs and
rasc:ls who thriveupon the imagination,
fears or credulity of the public. This
paper has been particularly industrious
in showing up the many medical hum
bugs 1t has done this work conscien-
tiously, with malice towards none, but
simply because its editors deem it to be
their duty as public journalists. and for
the promotion of the general welfare
and public good, to expose all such
net;irious pursuits, and the persons en-
gagged therein. to the end that the pub
lie may he warned and the credulous
and coniiding Shun the snares of rogues
and SwindlerS.
OF course paper that has been thus
out-spoken against such il dangerous
class has been the object on which such
Q
in many ways. Libel suits and threats
have been common: but its publishers
have moved on in the even tenor of
their ways, hardly ever even alluding
to the prosecutions to which they have
been subject. and never once letting up
in the least from their exposure of all
e al f,s fhnN W..r,
satisfied of the facts in the case.
But the publishers of the Agrjculturist
have departed from their usual custom
in one instance; the case itself, and the
Importance of Judge Brady's rulings
and charge. together with the testimony
of such eminent medical men as DR..
Alonzo Clark. senior physician at Belle
vuc Hospital, warranting the full report
of libel suit which they give i'll a
supplement to Hearth and Home of April
20. We wish this report could he read
10y every man and woman in the land,
and especially by the youth. There is
need of much education on the points
brought out in this trial. The public
should know that quack medicine max
ers and vendors are destroying the
health of the people-that unprincipled
men are undermining the very founda-
tons of society 10y sowing broadcast Il
literature that is corrupt and debasing !;
and that the highest court in the State
of New York declares not only news
paper guilty of no libel which exposes
these things, but holds manufacturers
of those nostrums responsible for the
damage they do. This latter point is
something entirely new, and one i'll
which not only quacks themselves, but
druggists and store-keepers, are deeply
interested.
But our limits Will not allow lis to go
more fully into the history of this case,
but simply to give an outline, with some
of the Judges opinion. In the 4gri-
cultmjst for April, 1868, among other
humbugs, was printed the following
paragraphs:
Eve warn all against Rev. Edward
\. Wilson, Williamsburgh, y. Y, and
his prescription for consumption, free
of charge. No such man is known at
the number given. We pronounce him
an unmitigated scoundrel--secOnd only
to DIR. -, and DR.. NJ. l.. Byrn. Box
1863, New York Post Office. For these
last two men we can hardly find words
strong enough to do justice to the sub
.iect. One of these chaps processes to
issue monthly paper to disseminate
universal intelligence. We have one of
of the infant murder and licentious or
der. DIR. Byrn makes a very bad book,
and vends medicines to match. and is
another nuisance"
DIR. Byrn Immediately commenced ii
libel suit against the publishers of the
paper, Messrs. Orange Judd Il Co., ask
ing 5000 damages. The case has been
pending, with the usual laws delay.
until the present spring, when after
very full hearing, much medical and
other testimony being taken as to the
character of DR.. Byrn's medicines and
books, the jury returned unanimous
verdict for Messrs. Judd y Co., thus
affirming the assertion that the Doctor
makes Il very bad book. and vends
medicines to match"
This DIR. Bym had received the diplo-
ma of an NJ. d., was member of the
same church as Mr.. Judd. and held a
license as an cXhorter since 1861. He
Is married and has four children. 1t
came out in evidence that one of the
Dad books" which he vendcd WAS
called 1.-The Secret of Beauty, or how
TO he Handsome" In this book was adj |
vertIsed The Great japanese Pho-ko-
Ta.' This book and the medicines it
advertised were pretty thoroughly rid !
died bv the medical testimony. but we
will give just one sample, when DR.. |
Quackenhos was on the stand: