New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-20

ANSWERS TO THE JENNINGS LIBEL SUIT.
WHAT MEssRs. KELLY sCHELL AND BROOKS ALLEGE
IN REPLY TO THE CoMPLAINT-THE CHARGES
PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AGAINST MIR. JENNINGS
REPEATED IN DETAIL.
Louis J. Jennings, who is now living in Eng
land began libel suit several weeks ago against Con-
trollcr John Kelly Augustus sche Erastus Brooks and
Others as trustees and stockholders Of The Nerlof
EreninJ Express for alleged lbelous publication IN
that Journal on March g. 1879 In this article Mr. Jen
nings wac charged With disreputabe habits, with VILE
beating and various ImmOralities and vices INC an
swers to the complaint filed yesterday in the Clerks
Office OF the United states Circuit Court by Wingaie
Cullen tho attorneys the defendants The material
portlons OF the answer Of Mcssrs Kelly, schel and
Brooks are follows
The defendants admit that the plaintiff is Journalist
formerly connected with New-York morning Journal
and for some time it's editor They deny that he In his
capacity Of Journalist editor has long had or now mas
an honorable name or fame repute IN NewHoik CITY,
or throughout the United States elsewhere The de-
PENDANTS admit that they trustees and stockholders
of The Epening Express They also admit the
publication of the alleged lireOus article on March o.
1879 but they allege that it published without their
knowledge.
They further allege that while the plaintiff was resid
ing in the City OF NewYork. and prior and subsequent
to this publication tho plaintiff was man OF bad repn
taton both as an individual and journalist that nc
was an habtual frequenter OF gambnghOuses In New
York, and particularly Of gammghouse at No. els
Broadway kept by John Mccormick, another at No
West Twenty ourth-s kept by john Morrssey another
at Threeuhs and University pacc kept by one Beers
that at all these places he violated the law by gambng
that his reputation was that of habtual gambler and
the associate Of gamblers that he lost large sums OF
money by gambling; that before his employment on
morning newspaper he was without income, ana was
aided and supported by his wiie reatyes that he had
the reputation Of borrowing money on his Wfes jew"
cry; that to pay gaming debts he drew drafts upon cor
poraOns where he had money, and such facts were
notorious az the time of the publications that the pla
tiff Was man OF violent aud ungOvernabe temper ana
brutal manners; that he habtualy treated ms SHOOT
dinates with msOence ana tyranny mat as lS.Ila'
st he was habtualy reckless his statements OF facts,
violent, personal and unjust in his assaults upon hu
person who might happen to dsagree Wlt n,.h T T
any tonic Irrespective OF character or position lhal
he had written and published virulent libeisLpon
large number OF the most eminent cllztne Oh WI WV
state and country, including Charles OCOnor, Horace
Greeley, William T. Dodge, Samuel j. ridden ana intIy
others OF similar standing IN INC com S
many to whom be was under personal OnlgntQns Ahu
that his reputation was That Of common oelIer, mo
rarely failed TO carry political hostility INTO LaheVros
personal hate and who had done more than almost any
other editor to degrade the standing Of the NewNorE
press and the profession Of journalism.
The defendants also alege that the plalnLH treateu
his wife with greet harshnSss ana Dru,ay ta t td
parties who heard her crying ana inc GstuIDa nc
created by his assaults upon her. forced their way into
his room 10 rescue her from further personal violence
that the relatives OF his wife, who were familiar WIN
with him account OF his naltreament OF hef and I
Centemanly behavior, and had publicly charged mn
with having slapped her face aud with having
Otherwise struck and beaten her That these facts We're
so generally known aud matters Of such nOtoueB
that large number Of articles specifically accusing the
plaintiff of having beaten his vile were published ~
SeW-York newspaper on different occasions during the
wear 1871 and subsequently that large number OF AZ
cles containing criminal charges were also published
In another morning newspaper. -
tits alleged further that the fact OF the plaintiff hay
ing committed these acts has been publicly stated Nv
judicial officers and in public speeches. and has been the
subject OF general conversation IN the community since
1871 that no public DENIAL OF any kind has been made
by the plaintiff or his behalf by Others OF these
sertious and that the defendants informed OF
these facts, and believed them 10 be true.