Daily Republican., 1880-05-28
THE COURTS.
The CrORsdRIe vs.. TantuRa Libel
Suit-ArgHments by the Counsel
William Neal Sentenced 10 be
Hung.

The CrOasdaIe vs.. TantuSn Libel
Suit-ArgHn neDis by the Counsel
William Neal Sentenced 10 be
Hung.
New CASTLE, Del, May q, 1880.
Mr.. Bates in addressing the Jurors
said: Editors are quasi public officers
and are worthy of respect. If they are
invested with authority to criticise pub
lie officers, and VIM. T. Croasdals is
considered the leading editor Of the
State, what will you say and what will
be the measure OF your damages for the
publication of such falsehood as was
published by DR.. Tantum? II 1t was
competent for DR.. Tantum to prove his
justification of the publication he should
have produced the evidence. The law
presumes it false and malicious and de.
void of justification. The question
which you should consider is not what
amount should be given to compensate
the plaintiff, but theamount which you
should like to express yeur disgust o.
the man who would write such an ar.
.icle and sign the name of others with
out authority.
This libel ia Really collection and 9
museum of libelous quotations, and
might be put away for future generations
as curiosity to show how many libelous
phrases could be placed in one article.
Since the Court will decide that the
plaintiff should be awarded damages
the question is by what measurement
will ye mete out the damages. Such
an article would not only effect him per!
sonally but would also effect those who
are dependent upon him. You should
also take into consideration the effect
that the article would have had II M
Croasdals had to obtain employment
in the oGce Of New York or Philadel
ph:a newspaper publishing company
While the counsel for the defence &C
knowledge his character as an editor
and the law clothes him with the charac
ter cfa gentleman, you should remen
ber that he stands before you as suehl
To test the amount of damages which
you think should be awarded the
plaintiff you can conclude by asking
the question:" For what price would
have had that article published against
me % The only way to express your
feelings in regard to the matter is to
grant the plaintiff the highest amount
Of damages which the law will allow;
you should consider the Wilderness with
which the article was circulated and
the number Of names which were at
tached to the article. The damages
which are laid in the mar are $4,000.
Mr.. Bates concluded BY saying they
confidently asked for the full amount
of damages.
Mr.. Lore addressed the jurors and
said he admitted the case was bald
but It was bald on the side of
the plaintiff, He acknowledged the
truthfulness Of the article but pleaded
not guilty to the charge OF libel. If
the article be true Mr.. Croasdale with
devilish mallgnity tried to crush out
Mr.. Tantum's means Of obtaining liv-
ing in tie insurance business. The
plaintiG charges the defendant with
forgery, but forger initiates the hand
writing Of the person whose name he
uses, willie DR.. Tantum signed the
other names in his own hand d-writinG.
DR.. Tantum comes here as no craver
but boldly says he published it. Mr..
Lore claimed that DR.. Tantum en-
tered the arena and buckled on the
armour to meet Mr.. Croasdale in his
own field, but when he did 80 Mr.. c.
dropped his mighty pen and said l will
20 to law and law he should get. By
this test you may see there is no libel
about the article. 1t it be true DR.
Tantum is justifable.
Mr.. Whiteley addressing the Jurors
said: We have offered no evidence in
defence because we did not need it.
From the foremost portion of the oom-
munication you will see that DR.. Tan
tum did not sit down in cold blood and
write it but did 1t in justification.
Court Adjourned.
AFTERNOON SESSION,