Daily globe., 1883-07-29
The Grent Libel Suit.


The libel suit of A. W. Edwards against
the Fargo Republican company will be
called in the district court at Fargo, it is
expected, early the coming week. The
suit will attract much attention, both on
account of the large damages claimed, :,
$4,000, and the prominence of the
parties. Much difficulty is anticipated in
the matter of finding jury as the case
is so notorious that It would seem that
twelve men not cognizant of part of the
facts, one side or the other, would be hard
to find. The case is about as follows:
There was an insurance company which
for some years did business in Chicago
under the name of the Protection Life
Insurance company. 1t was on the mutual
plan, keeping track of death rolls, and
collecting assessments with which
to pay losses. The secretaryship of the
concern was assumed by A. W. Edwards
in 1873. The president was L. P. Hillard.
In 1873 the company went up in cloud
of smoke, which savored of the smell of
birthstone, and which arose from the
streams of curses of policy holders. Ed
wards and Hillard were indicted by
grand jury, of Cook county, Ill. For some
reason the indictments never came to trial,
and they are said to have been quashed. Be
this as it may, there has never been any
action taken to prosecute them.
When the company vanished into thin
air, so very thin that there was nothing
left for the policy holders, it was alleged
that about $27O,O00 had been stolen by the
men who had charge of the concern, and
in an article on the subject, which ap-
peared in the Chicago Tribune, April Is,
1880, an alleged expose was given of the
ways and workings of the so-called steal.
While Edwards was secretery of the Pro-
lection Life, a paper was published by
that company called the Protection Adoo-
cate; of this paper DR.. Hall, now of the
Republican, was supposed to be managing
editor, though he states that his position
was that of clerk, who did work for the
paper occasionally. After the explosion
Hall and Edwards came to Fargo, the total
possessions of the former being twenty
dollars, and of the latter little less than
$500. Edwards had lost, for himself and
his immediate relatives, about $4,000 in
the explosion of the company.
Upon their arrival here Edwards and
Hall and son of Che latter formed Co
partnership and established the Fargo
Republican. This was in August, 1878. In
September, 1879, the copartnership was
dissolved by the purchase by Hall of Ed
wards share in the paper. Hall alleges that
Edwards agreed 10 leave town, which
agreement, however, does not appear in the
contract.
A month afterward, Edwards brought
new material and established the Argus,
and since then, at irregular intervals, have
occurred periods of newspaper warfare
which would have done credit to profes-
sional blackguards. The town and its
people grew tired of it, and importuned
the editors to let up, as their miserable
blackguardism was injuring the city, but
it was no use. The personal quarrel be-
tween the two men had to be aired for the
benefit of the public. The Republican,
in the meantime, had passed into the hands
of stock company, of which Hall was
manager, and editor IN chief of the paper.
Last fail Edwards was nominated for
the territorial legislature by the regular
caucus of the Republican party
of Cass and Rchland coun-
ties. This did not suit the faction
represented by the Republican, and anoth-
er candidate was paced in2the field. The
fight was waged bitterly and day or two
preceding the election, the Republican re
puDnSneQ the artiCl6 from Lno ChlcagC
Tribune before referred TO. The RepubIi.
can also affirmed editorially the truth OF
the statement, and charged Edwards with
everything that the heat of campaign
would orcould, give rise to. He was charg
cd with being a swindler of widows and
orphans, ringster,a trickster, a black
mailer, and other disreputable names toe
numerous to mention. The result was the
defeat of Edwards. and with it the Idefeat
of many measures said to be for the good
ofthe city, which had been arranged.
Sometime afterwards Edwards. brought
suit against the Republican company fol
libel, placing the damages a
$4,000. The complaint charge:
the defendant with having published the
article before referred TO maliciously ant
with intent to iniure the complainant. L
also states that the statement taken from
the Tribune is false, and known to be 81
by the defendant. In answer to the com
plant, the defense fled copy of the in
dictments against Major Edwards, and th
case viii soon come TO trial.
Upon tbs recommendation of the suprin
tendent Of the military academy the sec
e