New-York tribune., 1882-02-21
THE COURTS.
CHARLES A. BYRNE,s coNFrse,ox

In the Court OF Sessions in BrookIvn bo
iore Judge Moore, yesterday, Charles A. Byrne pre.
Sehteu an ainda IN the criminal proceedings brought
against him for hbeiing W. r. G. shanks This an
daVit was the oompetest possible reraction OF ths
libellOus statements on which the proceedings wero
brought. In regard to every OF these statement.
Byrne admitted that 1t wholly false He said that
he editor of the paper called Truth from December
22, 1879, until March, 1881. He gives the names
OF the persons associated with him in carving
on that paper during that time, and admits that
many lbeous articles against Mr. shanks
were published. He then cOnfesses in the affidavit that
the quotations from T7h given in the indictments
false and belous in every essential part lie next
takes up the lying story published in regard to The Sen
'ei and says that false and bellOus that he has
been convinced by ncontroyerble proofs that OF
the Subscribers or employees Of The Sentinel deceived
or defraded by the propretors, asserted in T
In regard to this and the other bes referred TO he says
that ne knows nothing to Justify sustain any
of them or any damaging insinuations published in
truth concerning Mr. shanks. In regard 10 his own
crimnaliy for these bes Byne says that the articles
were printed without the knowledge which the chief
editor Of newspaper properly supposed to have OF all
the articles that appear under his supervision"
Assistant Distrct-Attorpey Backus made the following
remarks conce rnng the "This complainant. Mr.
Shanks heed in newspaper called Truth for two
years and unable TO find out the responsible person.
or the person who wrote the fbelous articles. Last
April he got verdict against the American News CON-
panv, which circulated the copies 0f Truth containing the
Hbcllous matter We have proof that Mr. Byrne the
Osensbe editor Of Truth the time when the articles
appeared. without desiring 10 punish Mr. Byrne, hut
anxious TO have himself vindcated, Mr sbanks began
criminal action. He selected the worst articles and
made charges before magistrate The defendant waived
examination and We pressed the case. Mr. Shanks
was determined to vindicate himself and have the
thing stopped. MIR. Byne has made this affidavit,
declaring tha the lbellOus charges are utterly fase,
and the painapt Ia satisfied especially a the
names Of the actually guilty parties are now known.
We should have erre 70 have Mr. Byrne stand on hs
plea OF guilty Thrre libellous articles published
IN n challenge b. Truth to Mr. Shanks to begin civil or
criminal proceedings, they woul then show tha tho
emenis were This proceeding wa, therefore,
begun Mr.. Shanks is here, with all the vouchers and
documents, prepared prove the utter fasity or tho
allegations We have vouchers here to show that every
OF money ont OF which Mr. shanks was charg d
with having swnded various persons, was returned 70
tie subscTbers-3 thing perhaps unknown IN any sum-
lar We are fully prepared 10 prove every ca K
false. Inasmurh as the defendant has hrnl.heu thls
affidavit and Mr.. shans Ia satisfied 80 iar as Mt Byne
is concerned think the best thing to do Is to move 10
dismiss the Indictment"
The motion to dismiss the Indictment was granted.