The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-04-20
MCLEAN Scripts.
The PlaintiG A,rardod sg0, 600 Damages
History Of the AGair.
detroit Telegram

detroit telegram
The trial OF the celebrated libel suit OF
Donald MacLean against James l.. Scripps,
chief editor of the EOoning Ne,0s. of this
city, Is ended IL has excited widespread
interest, and for over two weeks it has been
the chief local topic of discussion. The case
presents many points of general interest
The plaintiff is Professor of Surgery in Mich
gan University, which responsible position
he has filed ten years On the 18th of Sep
TENDER, 1852, Scripps published in the
Eeeni1g Ne1os sensational article charg-
ing "a Professor in the University"
with improper intimacy with Mrs.
Emily Wardle, OF TilsonbuTg, Ont, while
she was under his professional care. The
statements contained in the article pointed
Enthusiastically TO Prof. MacLean. Those state
men;s Were condensed mainly from articles
previously printed in Canadian papers and
were of the sensational variety known as
red hot" Pre-. MacLean, in company with
his friend the late DR.. ID. o. Farrand inter
viewed Editor Scripps soon after the article
appeared in the NetcS. In that interview it
was agreed on the part OF Mr.. Scripps to
publish a statement which the professor
should dictate in the way of denial OF the
accusation The Macean statement was
published, and In the same issue appeared
an editorial paragraph directing attention
to it. That days publications were regarded
by the professor and his friends as an az gra-
Walton, rather than a cure, OF the alleged
libel, and thereupon suit was commenced
laying damages at $4,000 As matter of
course the declaration alleged that Mr..
Scripps acted maliciously in publishing the
scandalous charge.
The defendant in his bill of particulars set
forth that he would prove that MacLean and
Mrs. Wardle committed the crime at the
Leonard House, in Ann Arbor, on June 26
and 2S The plaintiff on trial of the case
accounted for all OF his doings on these
special days, and thus established a COM
plete alibl so far as the dates elected by the
defendant in his bill of particulars are con-
cerned The defense in brief claimed:
l. The alleged libelous article was true.
:. 1t was not maliciously published, but in
the public interest.
). Whatever damages the plaintiff might
have suffered We're done away by agreement
between the parties-in other words there
was accord and satisfaction
A significant and governing factor in the
case is what is known us the c. d. Brenton
letter 1t is a letter addressed to &C d.
Brenton, Til onburg Ont )" and signed John
Il. Weilcorn" 1t was written at Kingston,
Ont, July -, 1882, and it's language is erotic
and libidinous TO the last degree.
III was alleged by the defense that John
r. Welcorn" was Prof. MacLean, and that
&C. d. Brenton" was Mrs Wardle That
erotic letter was placed in the Nardle box
Nirs. Wardle having received other letters
SO addressed) and her husband obtained pos
session of it aud read it. Its shocking con-
tents, and the discovery of his wife sup
posed lnhdelity, so wrought upon Wardles
mind that he became mailman, and is now
in The asylum for the insane at London, Ont
The Brenton-Wellcorn letter and the let
tiers known to have been written by Prof
MacLean were used in court by the defense
20 strengthen their theory that one hand
wrote both. and that theory was also SIM
ported by the &c tlmony OF photographic ex-
perts, VINO swore unreservedly that such
was, III their opinion, the fact
The arguments by counsel consumed two
days. Judge Chapman charged the jury.
They retired at 1853 a m, and at p. IN.
rendered verdict in favor Of the plaintiff,
MacLean, for 81, eco 1t has been fiercely-
contested case, and it ems to have oc-
cupied almost the undivided attention of the
people Of Detroit