The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-03-25
cHAS A, DANA SUED FOR LIBEL.
Kcmble, or "Addition, DiviSiOn, and Silence
NOtoriety asks Damages IN $50,OOO-Ta
Trial CfiU i,l proorooe

Kcmble, or "Addition, Divi8ion, and Silence
NOtOriety asks Damages IN $50,O0O-Ta
Trial Still IN Progress.
The suit of William H. Kemble against
Charles A. Dana for alleged libellous
statements contained in Sun March IL,
1872, came to trial in the Superior Court,
before Judge Curtis, three years after the
commencement of the suit. The suit
arose out of statements which first APP
peared in the Sun on the date indicated,
and have been often repeated since,
charging William H. Kemble with being
one of a corrupt "ring, which included
John T. Hartranft, Auditor General; !.
M. Mcclure, Assistant Adjutant General,
Samuel Moore, styled in the alleged libel
Superintendent of Tom SCOTS Penn.
sylVania Legislature, and John T. Graft,
of the Philadelphia Press, and was form
ed for the purpose of defrauding the
State of Pennsylvania of nearly $500, 1000
in connection with certain war claims
Previous to the publication OF the alleged
libel an act had been passed by the Penn
sylvania Legislature directing the Cover
nor of the State to appoint a special
agent for the collection, of certain war
claims from the United States, and at
the same time the act fixed the compen-
sation of this agent at ten per cent. upon
the whole amount of the Claim, from the
sums collected. The Governor appoint
ed George O., Evans special agent, w.
H. Kemble being atthe time State Treas
urer, The SIN of March Is, 1872, pub
lished long statement in regard to these
transactions as its leading news article,
whose headlines ran: " Robbers Run
ming aState-Startling Frauds Unearth-
ed in Pennsylvania-The Story of the
War Claims--Concerning the Harris
burg Ring-Hartranft, Mackey, J. M.
Mcclure, Sammy Moore Kemble, John
w. Forney, and Others of Grants
Friends Pocketing the Peoples Money"
The article declared that in the corrupt
schemes of Hartranft and Evans "no,h-
ing could be done without Kemble's
help, SO Kemble was invited to partake
of the prospective feast" "The follow
ing was the cast of character" the Sun
continued, "Hartranft and Kemble by
their authority as the majority of the
Financial Board were to deliver over the
vouchers to the rings agent" When
Evans was about to start for Washington
w H. Kemble gave him the following
we'll known letter of introduction, which
for the first time in the libellous
article alluded to:
TREASURY DEPT OF PENNSYLVANIA, |
HARRISBURG, March IS, 1867,
My Dear Titan: Allow me to intro luce
to you my particular friend, Mr.. George
O. Evans. He has claim of some mag
nitude that he wishes you to help him in.
Put him through as you would me. He
addition, division and ST.
lence. Yours,
WILLIAM H. KEMBLE.
To Titan J. Cofey, Esq, Washing
ton, D. c.
In its history of the transaction, the
SIN charged that of the 500 900 first col
lected mot dollar got into the State
Treasury" Kemble got $40, 1000, and of
the last division of S2oI ,o46.oI he receiv-
ed $4,000. All, or nearly all the facts
of the article in which his own name
figured, are included by the plaintiff in
his complaint, at the close of which he
lays his damages at $4,000.
The suit was brought in the fall term
of the court following the publication of
the article, but variety Of motions to
amend the complaint, some of which
have been successful, and other legal
delays have prevented trial up to the
present time. Mr.. Peckham appeared
for the plaintiff, and after the impaneling
of the jury, offered to withdraw the suit |
if Mr.. Dana would withdraw his answer
alleging as justification that the libel was
true, and would publish a retraction.
Mr.. VIM. o. Bartlett, for Mr.. Dana, said |
they would willingly and gladly retract |
any statement which the gentlemen
would convince them was untrue. This
was not accepted, and then the article
was read in evidence, and the plaintiff |
rested his case. Mr.. Bartlett then offer
ed testimony taken by commission in |
support of the allegation in the article.
George o. Evans was then called for the |
plaintiff, and testified that the letter of |
had no reference to the war
claims. John L. Hill, Samuel w. Moon |
and William H. Kern, all residents of |
Philadelphia, testified to Mr.. Kemble's |
good character. The case was then adj
journed. 1t is not yet concluded NeaO
York Worid, March 4th.