Daily Republican., 1880-05-25
Lsvi G. B,ra. Eso. eot,cluded tho

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the Jurors as men capable Of doing
their duty regardless ofthe jests Of
counsel. He did say in his prslimina-
ry remarks, and he would sayso still
THAT thero has been no more important
case than this tried in New Castle
county for several years. 1t is to
the Jurors, the Court, the Counsel
and above all to Mr.. Croasdale a Sc.
rious matter. God forbid, said he,
that New Castle county should let
such an offence 60 unpunished.
| A man should be respected II he ia
an editor. He did not come here to
discuss Mr.. Bright's character, but he
would say that he is libeler and if he
were him he would be ashamed to walk
the streets Of Wilmington after having
allowed his name be signed to such a
libel. He is in the court to-day not to
Justify that libel, but he knows between
him and his God that he knew that Ii.
bel was to he published. What does
he do but come into court and shield
himself behind DR.. Tantum, to get un-
derneath DR.. Tantum's coat tails and
say l did not do it. II do not show,
said Mr.. Bird. that Mr.. Bright was as
much publisher of the libel ss DR..
Tantum, | think will cease practic-
ing law.
DR.. Tantum said "after sleepless
night" (no doubt from malice in his
heart and not sickDess) this sanctifsd,
immaculate gentleman sat down and
wrote the libel. He could not wait
until his regular business hours, but
the ranking of malice was 30 great
that he got up early and wrote it. If we
cannot establish that Mr.. Bright in his
acts acquissced with and agreed to the
contest Of the libel then we have no
case. Tantum wrote 1t, then Messrs.
Bright and Tantum are together either
at DR.. Tantuin's home or at the Iusur-
ance Office. DR.. Tantum reads the
article (not as an ordinary paper then
Mr.. Bright, If he had any soul within
him must have been struck with the
| impression that 1t was O very infamous
piece, unless he had an interest In it.
What was that interest? The interest
of the Insurance Company.
The Vice President composed it and
read 1t to the President; when be had
concluded reading il Tantum told
Bright that it was to be published.
Published when, where and what for ?
Answer me if you can. 1t was publish
ed in the afternoon papers and part of
it(tbat which referred to the condition
of the insurance. Company was sworn
to before Magistrate Hagany. They
swore that the company had $l6l, 900;
il so would like to see portion Of it
here. If any one Of you Jarors had
your barn insured in that Company
you would take your fastest horse and
go to Wilmington for the purpose of &C.
curing your money.
For what purpose did Mr.. Bright
make affirmation before Magistrate Ha-
gany regarding the condition of the In
surance Company. Simply to swear to
the contents of the libelous article
which was published. 1t is said that
be was not connected with the libel,
published when he affirmed before Nag
istrats Hsgany' or do you think no
one would have approached him on
Sunday and have told him the li6al was
published ? Why should, Mr.. Bright
have said 1t was good piece ? Per-
hsps he meant 1t was written iii good
style, but for his part he did not want
to learn how to write in such good
style II your name had been in the
article when it was read to you, would
you have let DR.. 1antum 60 from your
home without first forbidding him to
publish II = It would have been un-
manly and unCourageous in Mr.. Croas-
dale to have gone to Mr.. Bright and
dangled around his coat tails in sueiDg
for pardon after such a vocabulary Of
abuse had been heaped upon him. If
you can say that a man in this County
cannot receive damages for such an act
God pity the people. 1t will also be
shown that the Delaware State Fire
and Marine Insurance Company is
rotten corporation and fraud.
Mr.. Lore asked the Chief Justice to
restrain Mr.. Bird. The Chief Justice
did so, but Mr.. Bird claimed that he
had as much right to refer to that cor
poratiOn as the cousel for the defence
had.
Mr.. Bird continuing said, Mr.. Croas-
dale had right to expose the Insurance
Company if he believed it to be- fraud
and the Jurors owed him a debt Of
gratitude. II is said that instead Of
ratifying or endorsing the publication
he regretted it. 1.-The regretted it why
did he not deny the publication rs any
right mined man would have done?
His silence acquised inand ratified
the act. The defendants can abuse
Mr.. Crossdale, but his character in this
respect was above reproach, we had
witnesses here to prove it but the
Court rejected them. They refer to
desecrating the memory of the dead,
but wha: they have done is worse;
they have desecrated the memory of
the living. Mr.. Croasdale's mother
came here to testify that her son was
her sole support.
In referring to the motion for a non
suit, Mr.. Bird said it was proven by
the rejection of the motion that the
Court considered there was sufficient
evidence to connect Mr.. Bright with the
publication of the libel, and If the
Court thought so it seemed to him that
the Jurors would think likewise. II
verdict is given for the plaintiff his and
the papers reputation will be sustained,
but If verdict is given for the defend
ant the reputation of Mr.. Croasdale and
the "Every Evening" will be affected.
The jury was discharged until ten
o'clock tomorrow morning.
At5.15 O'Clock VIM. Neal, colored,
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