The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-17
UNION POLICY.
It Results in a Suit for
Libel.
S. R. Porter Sues for $10,-
900 Damages.

Samuel r. Porter, ex-county treas urer
yesterday began suit against the Union
Printing company of this city for SANDER
and libel, and the amount of damages
prayed for is $4,000. The suit is not
only against the Union Printing Company
as corporation, but also against Walter
johnson and w. III. Burdette, managers of
that concern, as individuals.
The facts in connection with the affair
leading to the suit are quite generally
known and understood Mr. Porter, on
retiring from the position of county. treas
urer, was represented by the Union to have
conducted his official duties in careless
manner. That paper contained
numerous articles about the mat
ter in which Porter's administra ton
was characterized as anythingb but an honest
one, and even the private character and
alleged habits of Mr.. Porter were comment
ed upon in no friendly manner. An in
vestigation was ordered by the Board of
Supervisors and the affair came into court.
Mr. Porter was made the defendant in a
salt to recover a certain sum of money,
which terminated in Mr.. Porter's favor.
Even after this judicial determination of
the transaction, the Union failed to acquesoe
in the decision of the court, and refused to
vindicate that officials character as is gen.
orally customary with an impartial, fair
minded journal. The attack upon Mr..
10 4l,o Tor
ed that individual justly indignant and the
suit was the result A representative of
the ARGUS this morning called at the office
of Sturgeon and Olson, the attorneys for
Mr. Porter to learn the full particulars of
the suit. Mr.. Sturgeon was found and was
Intercepted as follows:
''Mr Porter has commenced suit, has
he9"
Yes" said Mr.. s turgeon; ''And while l
do not care to 60 into details, you can say
generally that the suit is not for fees"
Are you willing to say what special ar
ticle in tho Union led to the suit9''
THAT would hardly do at the present
time, but I will say that it was caused by
continuous abuse and persistent misstate
ments in regard to Mr.. Porter and his Off
cial conduct"
s'Was the decision recently NADER"
"Well, we talked about bringing suit
after the trial had terminated in which Mr.
Porter was concerned, but Mr. Gest as well
as our firm, who will represent him,
thought it best to let the matter rest. The
recent uncalled for and unprovoked attack
upon Mr.. Porter caused US to commence
the suit at once. I see the Union claims
to have been impartial, and also pretends
to give facts. Here have to say, If they
really think that they have been giving
facts, they are not good judges of the true
and the false"
Mr.. Sturgeon was asked if suits would
be instituted against certain weekly pa
per published in the interest of the
workingmen, and while he refused to state
positively that such would be the case,
implied by his manner that other suits
would be commenced.
Sweeney s. jackson were next visited
to ascertain whether they had been retained
by the Union Printing Company and Mes
srs Johnson s Burdett, one of the men,
bers Of the firm stated that so far they had |
acquainted with the merits of the case or
the line Of defense to be made by the de-
PENDANTS.