Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-15
BLAINE's sHREWDNEss.
The indianapolis 's Sentinel to be Sued
for its Alleged Libel.


INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 14.-On Aug. {
the Sentinel of this city contained an
editorial charging that Blaine had seduced
his present wife in Kentucky and then
fed to Maine; that the young woman and
her father followed him and that he mar
ried her at the point of gun. This hav-
ing reached Blaine, he sent the following
dispatch to Col. Holloway:
BAR HARBoR, MAINE. Aug. IA 1884
To COL ". r.. HoEl0lcay.
| have this moment received the atrocious
libel of the indianapolis Sentinel. 1t is utter
ly and abomlnably false in every statement
and every implication. Political slanders | do
not stoop to notice, but this editor assails the
honor OF my wife and my children. l desire
you, without an hour delay, to employ proper
attorneys and have the responsible publisher
OF the Sentinel sued for libel in the United
states District Court of Indiana. 1t is nv
only remedy. am sure that honorable Dem
ocrats alike with honorable Republicans will
justify me In defending the honor of nv fam
lily # ueed be with my life.
lSignedl JAMES G. BLAINE.
Col. Holloway placed the matter in the
hands OF Senator Harrison's firm. and pa
pers are new in course of preparation in
accordance with Mr.. Blaine's direction.
THE COMPLAINT.
Harrison, Miller & Elan, attorneys.
this afternoon filed the following COM
plant with the Clerk of the United States
Circuit Court:
James g. Blaine, plaintiff, VS.. the Indian
apOlis Sentinel Company of John C. Shoe
maker defendant, for libel; James G. Blaine
plalntin. The above named citizen of the
State of Maine complains of said defendant of
the indianapolis Sentinel Company, corpor-
alton created by and under the laws of the
State Of Indiana, and citizen of said state,
and John Q. Shoemaker, who is also
a citizen OF said State Of Indi-
ana, and says that the defendant
company is owner and publisher of a daily
newspaper called the Indianapolis Ddiiy
Sentinel, which is printed and published at
the city of indianapolis. in the State of In
dana; mat the defendant, John G. Shoema-
ker. is President ard business MANAGER of
sald company. and, as such, directs and con-
trols the publication of said newspaper;
that on the Sth day of August
A. d. 1881, said defendant wickedIv intending
to lnjure, defame and scandalize the plaintiff
did mallclously print and publish in a regular
issue OF said paper for that day, of and con-
cernlng the plaintiff certain false, scandalous
and defamatory articles in the words follow
ing:
"CAN BLAINE AFFORD IT?
1.-THE campaign waged against Cleveland is
to-day an indecent one. Finding no vulner-
able point IN his public record, the enemy
have assailed supposed irregularity in his pri-
yate conduct. They have dressed and redressed
the affair until the naked facts of it are but
small part of the fur below the frilled and
lcan print. This besmrching of private
character is the stock in trade of the Blaine
folks. 1t is all they have to offer
against the Democratic candidate. But can
James O. Blaine afford this plan of
battle? If his own flanks are as unprotected
as they are currently understood to be, is he
not provoking scathing fire by permitting
Democrats will hardly remain quiet
ON Blaine's inner life when his
supporters are resorting to scandal
mongerlng against their candidate.
The charges of seduction made against Cleve-
land are false upon their very face, and it ap-
pears to be turned on Blaine and made to
stick. There Is hardly an intelligent man in
tins country who has not heard that James G.
Bialne betrayed the girl whom he
married, and then only married her
at the muZzle of a shotgun. The Democratic
press has had the magnanimity not to put
forth these reports, which must cause pain to
thesmembers of Blaine's family. The Repub-
lican papers have long known of them, and
have allowed them to go undenied.
BLAINE'S UNFITNEss.
"lf Blaine was a scoundrel to betray inno-
cent girls, if after despOiling he was the
craven to refuse her legal redress by giving
legitimacy to her child until loaded shotgun
stimulated his conscience, then there is a blot
on on MS private character more foul, if posi-
bic, than any of the countless stains
on his political record. His conduct
discloses moral obliquity. rendering him un-
deserving of social confidence and an unfit
such record he cannot afford to assail his op-
ponent. As between Cleveland and Blaine,
what fair minded voter can hesitate
to pronounce the former the cleaner and
purer man?"
That a large number of copies of said
newspaper, to wit, 5,0oe. were
upon said day by defendant caused
In said city of indianapolis and through the
state of Indiana, and that by reason of said
implication the plaintiff has been dam
ffn ncraF,a afNF
demands judgment,
1t is understood that tomorrow pro-
ceedings will begin against Shoemaker
and the author of the article under
Grubbs' libel law in the State courts.
This will compel Blaine's attendance as a
witness. The attorneys say that this suit
and criminal proceedings will be pushed
with all nnSsihln disnatch