The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-12-19
THE CASE DROPPED.

Mr.. Blaine Brings His Libel Suit Against
the indianapolis 'Sentinel" to a Sudden
Termination by Ordering It's Dismissal
His Reasons.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Dec 1.-THE fa-
nous libel suit of James G. Blaine against
the Indianapolis Sentinel Company reached
a sudden and unexpected termination yes
terday in the United States Circuit Court,
A-: Blaine's attorneys appearing with re-
quest for its dismissal. The request was
accompanied by the following letter from
the distinguished plaintiff to his attorneys,
setting forth, the reason for this action:
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10-Messrs. Harrison.
Miller & ELAN, CounseIors at Law: Gentle
men-When requested you in August last
to bring suit against the publishers of
the Indianapolis Sentinel for libel, 1 did SO
by that paper, being entirely of
personal and domestic character, could be
fairly tried without undue influence from
political considerations. / confess / was
once taken up and the libel reproduced
with all possible exaggeration in every
Democratic paper in Ind ana. Except from
three members of the Democratic party of
that State, l never heard that word of dis
sent or disapproval was spoken, while the
great mass of the Democratic speakers repeat
90 LnG uD6l from every stump IN lnQ1aQa Win
yituperative rancor, with 5ibe and ribald
jest. 1t was thus made, SO far as
any matter of the kind can be made,
an issue tn an exciting. political
were thoroughly poisoned in their minds in
regard to the question to be decided at law.
Under such conditions, 1t is simply impossible
that can have fair trial, Or that I can ex-
pect any other result than that which uni
formly attends q political libel suit growing
out OF an exciting campaign in this country.
Ii l were unfair enough to desire jury
composed OF my own partisans, | could
not have 1t A properly constituted jury in
Indiana would be composed Of members Of
both political parties in about equal proper
tons. When / visited Indiana in October,
was repeatedly advised that six Democrats
could not be found III the State who, in
political suit, would give verdict
against Their leading party organ. This
upon their personal integrity as citizens,
but simply that the binding of party
prejudice would utterly prevent an impair
tial cons Iteration of the evidence submitted.
am perfectly able to fight the Sentinel news
paper IN an Indiana court, but would stand
no chance whatever against the con-
6ohdated venom Of the Democratic party
of the State. With these surroundings,
and with this prospect it is idle for
me to go through the trouble and annoyance
of trial. The questions propounded by
substantially and fully answered by me,
and 1 am willing to leave my writ
ten statement and answers under
oath to the Judgment of the public.
! do not choose to have the case indirectly
concluded by a technicality or suffered to die
in silence. prefer to make this frank and
open statement of the reason which induced
me to believe the prosecution of the case
would be utterly frultless. Very respectfully,
JAMES G. BLAINE.
Some time ago Mr.. Shoemaker's lawyers
stated that they would demand that the
court issue an order for Mr.. Blaine to make
immediate answer to the inteuogatories
filed with their amended bill of discovery,
and this being in the nature of chancery
proceeding they were entitled to such ruling.
These interrogatories went into minute de-
tails of both the Kentucky and the Pitts
burgh marriages; Mr.. Blaine's subsequent
engagement to Miss Marshall; the defac-
ing of the Augusta grave stone, etc. In
order to continue the suit full answers to
each Of these would have been imperatively
necessary