The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-23
PETER COOPER SIZED FOR LIBEL
What Grew Out OF His Greenbnck Campaign
The Defendant Excited.

The venerable Peter Cooper yesterday
inflated his air cushion in the Supreme
Court. Brooklyn, eased himself into his seat.
drew lady's fan from his coat pocket. and
famed himself. The suit OF Wallace ?. Groom
against Peter Cooper was called. 1t is for $780,
900 damages for libel. The plaintiff who is de-
scribed in the complaint as editor of the Mer-
camille Journal. President Of the Mercantile
Journal Company. Secretary OF the New York
Board of Trade. and duly accredited delegate OF
the National Board Of Trade Of the United
States to the associations OF tho Chambers Of
Commerce Of the United Kingdom. lie intollectu-
nj in appearance, and uses a rapdity Of utter
nnce that almost crazed the stenographer. Mr..
Groom. on Oct. 30, 1876. made contract with
Mr.. Peter Cooper to furnish GOO polling booths
then candidate for President on the Greenback
ticket Mr., Groom also contracted to print and
distribute 10000 four-page documents. with
ballots attached. sending one 10 ench voter
whose name was registered in New York city.
and to print and furnish for use in the State
100000 more OF these documents. all for the
sum of $4,000. which Mr.. Cooper agreed to pay.
The action for libel is based on "a letter which
Mr.. Cooper sent on March 1. 1877. to Wallace p
documents. with tickets. had not been delivered.
ms agreed and paid for, on election day; that
these documents were found on the morning
Of election day thrown about the streets in bum
dies that the tickets did not reach the polls.
and could not be found at many Of the places
that he was trying 10 secure his own election to
Congress at Mr. Coopcr's expense regardless
OF the most positive promises to both Mr..
Cooper and the Republican parry. The letter
concludes.
think therefore, in the light Of these facts that
in every particular aud subjected me aud The cause TO
10 SeT1d m msans srSnse your voluntary
Many politicians attended the trial. George
Opdyke. the banker, testified that Mr.. Groom
Tas nominated i9r Congress at his suggestion.
Aftor the consolidation OF the Board of Trade
and the Cheap Transportation Association. the
question oi the election oil Mr. Groom us Secre-
isry iI0 f4me up but i Was objected to By NJ A.
Der. Mr.. Opdyke had received a copy Of the
letter from Mr.; Cooper.
Mr. John +. Henry testified that Mr. Cooper
handed in a copy Of his letter to the Console
dated Board. and that the leaders in that organ
lzation thought that when SO eminent man rs
Peter Cooper made accusations against Mr..
Groom 1t would not do to make him Secretary.
as number Of members thought that 1t would
hurt the board. The inference they drew from
the letter was that Mr.. Groom wGs an ungrate-
ful bad man.
Mr.. Groom testified that he was an ardent
member OF the Greenback party. and that he
had labored sincerely for the welfare OF the
Cooper and Carey ticket. Mr.. Groom further
views by articles in HdIper's Weekly and in the
Atlantic Monthiv
A number OF newspaper articles denouncing
MIR. Wallace y. Groom for perldy in his rela-
tions with Mr.. Cooper We're read. Mr.. Coopers
letter was then read. sentence by sentence. To
tne Witness ana rs ne sWor' tha tne statements
contained therein were false. the venerabi
Peter Cooper betrayed intense excitement
-" am very glad TO have you read that said
Mr.. Cooper, " II is true. l want them all Ia
hear it," Mr.. Groom denied the truth OF each
statement, or pronounced it nonsense. Mr..
Cooper looked at him in amazement, and then,
turning to DR.. Zachos. said repeatedly. Why
why, | can swear to the truth OF that" Mr.
Zarhos tried in vain to repress Mr.. Cooper. and
then Mr.. John L, Parsons, his counsel. tried It,
Mr.. Cooper would raise his hand TO dispute
some assertion. and Mr.. Persons would seizu 1t
and draw It down 70 his knee. saying, " X .rp
STILL. Then Mr.. Cooper would quickly shake
hands with his counsel. and say. Yes. yes.
will - but rs by that time the witness had dis
puted some new statement, his hand would ~
up again. his mouth would Open and then he
would shake hands with his counsel again
MIR. Cooper seemed intensely panied whenever
the witness swore that the assertions in his let
ter were not true.
rha cns a .rns not nnrnl.lAnI