Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-05-31
''SEED WHEAT BRYANT"

His Criminal Libel Suit Comes to Naught
Col Teller TriumphantIy Acquitted
A Verdict Which Practically Convicts
Bryant of the OfTense Charged.
Especial Telegram to the Globe:l
WABAsHAw, Mimi, May 3O.-The libel
suit lnstigated by Geo. Bryant, Familiarity
known as "Seed Wheat Bryant" against
the Hon. VIM. h Teller, of Elgin in this
county, came to an end to-day by verdict
OF not guilty, rendered after about twenty
minutes by the jury. Bryant, who is now
resident of Dakota and who came down
on free pass to prosecute as the complain
ing witness, secured an indictment year
ago on an article published by Col. Teller
IN the Plainview Ne,Os charging number
OF dIsreputable transactions against him,
Bryant, among which was the sale of his
vote IN the caucus to the Ramsey faction,
IN January 1869. Although this charge
was then made by the st. Paul Dispatch,
Lake City Leader and other papers, Bry-
ant sought no recourse until lately, when
his character became very sensitive and he
sought vindication at the expense of the
state. After diligent search he has found
MS character. but in so battered and di-
Implicated condition as to be unrecogniz-
able. His appearance upon the stand
when placed there as witness by the
state was decidedly against him,
and although he found an opportun-
lty to air his spleen against Mr..
Hall as editor of the Dispatch in
1869 as we'll as some of his townsmen, he
utterly failed to convince the jury that he
had any character to libel. The suit has
settled the question of the suit against the
PlalnvleW NeacS, in which the county at
torney will enter nolle prosequi. Bryant
leaves for Dakota amid the execrations of
the people who are compelled to pay the
expenses of his quarrel with Col. Teller.
Ills clear perjury in swearing that he new
or was called seed Wheat Bryant was
commented on by every one,
and the frequent illusions to
that famous application as he
Went down street was enough to cause him
to De less forgetful in the future.
In abiding to the stigma which the
name implied. Mr.. H. D. Stocker, of Lake
City, of the counsel for the defense, re-
marked that the title was one of his own
choosing, and was we'll carried. It would
follow him through life, whether he hid
himself among the hills Of Dakota or in
the deepest wales of its western wilds: upon
land or on the seas which 10 sail trav-
ersed, through life would it's obIiquity
follow him, and when his soul
left this world it would be
labeled seed wheat" for the next
Bryant is criticised upon the street in
the most scathing terms and is Stunned
by every one. He is advised by all classes
to return to Dakota and when he has a
personal quarrel with any one, to fight it
out with his own money. Col. Teller left
for his home this afternoon with the con-
CALCULATIONS of his friends and Mr.. Bryant,
sadder and it is to be hoped a wiser
man. left also. His personal abuse of the
former editor of the Dispatch has
made that gentleman hosts of friends here,
Thus ends the first criminal libel suit
ever tried in the state, and the action of
the jury will establish a good precedent.
When worthy man has a good character
which has been maligned, and his poverty
compels him to call the state to his aid in
his search for it, if like Bryant he fails to
ind it, he ought to be made to nav his
o"n eApeHees' upon the streets the YER
dict is that man who for thirteen years
has uttered no public protest against the
almost constant villifoation of his name
and character ought not at this late day to
ask the state to find and vindicate it. The
district attorney will offer an objection to
paving fees and mileage to Bryant.
King, the pilot of the Centennial, left on
the ke0kuk to-day.