The daily gazette., 1876-08-08
A Cross Libel.

In our state those who publish libel
may prove the truth of their assertions
in mitigation of the offense. But where
there is no truth. or a rumor Invent I'd in
spleen and circulated in malice, and re-
asserted and reprinted with the avowed
intention of destroying character and
reputation, the law is very severe and
Justly so, for in such cases no citizen is
safe. His character may be destroyed
at any time il suits the convenience of
men who hesitate not to lie and re-assert
the LIE with that aim and purpose of
view.
The article in the Morning Herald in
this date is of SO vile a character as to
lead to the foregoing remarks. 1t is 30
foul and detestibly false that we dare
not even copy it, without incurring our
self the charge of publishing libel.
Some weeks ago the Herald put in cir
culation rumors to the effect that the
Sheriff had not furnished the prisoners
with sufficient food, OF a wholesome
character. This was promptly contra
dieted by the GAZETTE and by its New
Castle correspondent, residents on the
spot. 1t was denied in conversations by
the Jail Commissioners, the Attorney for
by the Levy Court, Geo. Gray, Esq, and
the Jail Physician, DIR. ]. ]. Black, and
all VINO are in authority. After all this
the Herald re-vamped the rumors and
reprinted them in various forms. 1t
now does so again, and evidently in
malice prepenSe. Mr.. O'Byrne is mem
Der Of the Bar of this county and should
know better. But he has made SO many
mistakes in cases such as that Of Mary
McCann, where the poor woman lost her
case because her attorney did not know
his first duty, and failed to prove her
marriage while seeking to recover dam
ages for the loss sustained in the drown
ing of her husband, This was q fatal
error to the cause whatever the issue
might have been had it not been COM
mltted and now another error for want
of legal learning may lead the offenders
into serious difficulty.
The facts are that the Sheriff had
nothing to do with fixing the 'charge'
for feeding the prisoners. 1t is fixed
by the Levy Court, and he found it
already made when ne entered upon his
duties 1t is the same that had existed
under Sheriff r. L. Armstrong and sew
eral other Of his predecessors. Unless
the Herald shows that the Sheriff charges
more than the regulation prescrlbes there
can be no otfense in this matter. The
other charges made by the Herald are so
manifestly false and malicious, so foreign
to the character and conduct of the
Sheriff that no citizen of New Castle
will deny their want Of truth.
So far from this charge being true
Sheriff Lambson has kept the Jail in su
perior and satisfactory manner and his
whole character gives the lie direct to
the charge of imposing upon the county
starving prisoners, or feeding them on
tainted and unwholesome food, and
burnt beans and turnip water" Nc
more generous gentleman ever kept the
prison. Every feeling within him woulc
revolt at such thing The food giver
is good and substantial, better thar
many families now are able to afford a,
regularly. A great many prisoners hav,
been kept by the Sheriff, the Jail havin,
been once or twice emptied, and yet no
one of them ever made this charge.
has been left to such characters as pub
ish the Herald to FIX it up in malice ant
send it forth with an aim to ipjure char
acter both Of the Sheriff and his family
But in this outrage and villainy the
will fail most slgnally. Such an attemp
to levy "black mail has never beel
made in our State before.