The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1884-09-25
THE BLAINE LIBEL CASE.


Counsel for shoemaker Make Application
to tho Court for an Order Compelling
Blaine to Answer their InterroERtories In
Order tn Make out Their Defense, Other.
wise That Proceedings be Perpctualiy
Stayed.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND, September 10.
In the United States District Court yes
tcrday afternoon the attorneys for MIR.
Shoemaker filed bill OF discovery in the
Blaine Sentinel libel suit The bill be-
gins by citing the fact of Blaine bringing
suit against the Sentinel and repeating
tile original complaint In the suit, the
Scntineps answer, accompanying the in
terrogAtories and reply OF Blaine's at
torneys. The bill then states that alter
filing the interrogatories, Shoemak-
cr's attorneys on the 9th Of
September, moved the court
for rule against Blaine to answer tho
same within specified time, to be fixed
by the Court, which motion was argued
on September IS, and oveTruled. The bill
then goes on to say that in order to sus-
tain the defense, justification pleaded by
Shoemaker, 1t viii be necessary and ma
terial Tor the orators to show aud prove
that Blaine had Illicit relations with and
seduced the person whom he afterward
married, the result of said intercourse
being the birth of child In about three
months after said marriage.
The bill goes on to say that the orators
are informed and believe that the mar
riage Of James G. Blaine and Harriet
Stanwood occurred on or about the Goth
OF March, 1851, In Pittsburgh, Pa. that
the marriage was clandestinely arranged,
secretly performed aud hastily ac-
complishcd that no license was is
sued by any authority for such mat-
riage, none being required by the laws OF
Pennsylvania ut that time; that no public
official record was kept or made for the
same reason; that one Bryan, the min
ister who ofIlciated at the said marriage,
has been dead several years, and that II
any private memoranda or record Of the
marriage was made the same is lost or
destroyed, particulars OF which marriage
are fully known to Blaine.
The bill then states that some time be-
fore the date Of said marriage Blaine
was Professor at an institution OF
learning at Millersburg, KY, that Miss
Stanwood was an instructress in fe-
male school at the same place, and
that they there became acquainted.
Both were unmarried, and Blaine adj
/
| he gained her confidence, and IL
licit relations followed; that short
time before said marriage Jacob Stan
| wood brother or uncle of Harriet,
or some other person or persons
unknown to the orators, waited on
Blaine, charged him with being the cause
| OF Miss Stanwood's condition, and
threatened him with personal violence
unless he married herj that Blaine made
no denial of the charges, and In conse-
| quence of being threatened agreed to
marry her; that one or more persons
were present at the interview between
Blaine and the relative, but who these
persons were is unknown to the orators.
Tie bill then states that after the mar
riage Mrs. Blaine went to Augusta, Me-, /,
where the child was born about the 18th
OF June, 1851, and that said child was
always recognized and acknowledged by
Blaine as his son. The orators further
say that they have a good and valid de-
tense, as stated in their plea of justiaca-
tion; that facts stated in the answer are
true, and that the same can be fully
established by the answers of Blaine
to the interrogatories heretofore
propoundcd, all the circumstances
being fully known to him, and full and
complete discovery of said facts from
and by Blaine Is necessary TO the orators
Ia their defense In aid OF such other tes-
timouy as may be procurable. Unless
this is done, the orators cannot so fully
set out and completely show and
prove the facts necessary to the
defense. The orators, therefore, pray
that full aud complete discovery be mad'
by Blaine in relation to facts heretofore
stated, and to that end that he be sum
moned to answer the same under oath
The bin closes by asking that writ o.
subpoena be issued out OF chancery fol
Blaine, and that he be ordered to an
swer particularly the interrogatories
that proceedings be stayed unit
Blaine may answer. That In cas-
Blaine fails TO answer said bill
or fully and truly to answer interroga
tories, further proceedings be perpet
ually stayed and restrained. No actlol
taken.