The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-12
THE VERDICT OF A VERDICT.

LIE fEhO1CI OE n GaO4O4s
The verdict for S., 900 damages il favor of
the plaintiff, in the case of Helen NJ. Cougar
versus Harry Mandler, is surprise, and
very agreeable one to all lovers of pure
womanhood, and to those who regard the
reputation of either man or woman some
thing too valuable to be blasted by breath.
The general opinion certainly was that at the
best there would be a disagreement of the
jury. 1t was scarcely reasonable to expect
agreement In a case so hotly contested, which
excited the passions and prejudices of peo-
pie SO deeply, and in which there was such
voluminous contradiction of testimony.
That upon the first ballot there was practical
harmony among the jurymen on the princi-
pal question, and on the second absolute
unanimity, is convincing proof that, after
crucial test, the severest that ingenuity and
personal interest, not to say enmity, could
make, Mrs. Cougar energies vindicated
from the foul charge uttered against
her. We congratulate Mrs. Cougar not only,
but Captain Wallace as well, and above and
beyond these society in general, which must
stand upon firmer and better foundations
whenever the spirit OF SANDER is signally re-
buked We do not care to reflect upon the
motives of the defense; but it has been clear
from the first that there was something more
than Mrs. Cougar personality involved, and
the impression has been forced upon i'm
partial minds that Mrs Cougars relations to
public questions, and the fact that Captain
Wallace was VIGOROUSLY committed to GER
tain sides of certain issues and made a cam
paign for public Office as champion of
those ideas, had much more to do with the
case than anything else, and that had
the plaintiff and her friend and
co-laborer been comparatively unknown
citizens, the larger part of the
animus of the case would have been absent.
ant to many people, that she has been indis-
erect in word and acts during the progress of
the trial particularly, is not denied, and has
been freely commented upon both by her
friends and foes. But it must be borne in
mind that during these weeks she has been
bearing burden the weight of which no
man and but few women can estimate, and
much is to be pardoned upon the score of a
tension from the reaction OF which it will
be miracle il the woman emerges without
SERIOUS physical prostration. 1t sic
boosted hope and desire of all the parties to
the case--by none more earnestly expressed
than by those whose duty it was to prosecute
the PLAINTIFF arrive at the truth, and they
expressed a willingness to leave the question
with the jury sworn to try the issue, The
verdict has been rendered under the forms
of law, and may it not be hoped that as the
result there will come a reign of social peace
and order in our sister CITY, which has been
SO painfully distracted during the progress
of this harassing suit. Surely there should
come Christening to each side, and each
should learn the value of charitable judy
ment and careful words. But this lesson
must be and will be enforced by this verdict,
and by the exemplary one against the
Detroit News, which criminally coupled
the name OF distinguished physician and a
female patient: that the regulations of
honorable men and women, built up in a
community through years of residence and
under circumstances where the fierce light
that beats about the throne shines full upon
them, are not to be lightly regarded. Society
is vitality interested in unfolding the in
tegrity of its members, and there must be
something more than personal malice acting
upon a baseless rumor to warrant the strik-
ing down of any one, even the humblest.