Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1884-12-25
The CASE DROPPED.

Mr.. Blaine Brings His Libel Suit Against
the Indianapolis "SentineI" to a Sudden
Termination by Ordering Its Dismissal
Ills Reasons.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Dec. 1.-THE IA
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,
Mr.. 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:
RtsSt uSodNessrsi Harslsan
to bring suit against the publishers of
in the belief that the wrong done mo
by that paper being entieSly of a
personal and domestic character, could be
fairly tried without undue influence from
political considerations. l confess / was
profoundly amazed to find the matter at
once taken up and the libel reproduced
Democratic paper in Ind ana. Except from
three members Of the Democratic party of
that State, never heard that a word of dis
sent or disapproval was spoken, while the
great mass of the Democratic speakers repeat
cd the libel from every stump in Indiana with
yituperetive rancor with jibe and ribald
any matter of the kind can be made.
All issue In an exciting political
were thoroughly poisoned in their minds in
regard to the question to be decided at law.
Under such conditions IL Is simply impossible
that can have a fair trial, or that l can ex-
pect any other result than that which uni
formly attends political libel suit growing
out OF an exciting campaign in this country.
If / were unfair enough to desire jury
composed of my own partisans, / could
not have it. 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 in the State who, in
against their leading party organ. This
did not necessarily convey an Alputation
upon their personal integrity as citizens,
prejudice would utterly prevent an impair
tial consideration of the evidence submitted.
1 am perfectly able to fight the Sentinel news.
no chance whatever against the con.
solidated venom of the Democratic party
of the State. With these surroundings,
and with this prospect, 1t Is idle for
me to go through the trouble and annoyance
of trial Tho questions propounded by
the bill of discovery have already been
substantially and fully answered by me,
and i am willing TO leave my writ
ten statement aud answers under
do not choose to have the case indirectly
concluded by n 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 fruitless. Very respectfully,
JAMES q. BLAINE.
Some time ago Mr.. Shoemakers lawyers
stated that they would demand that the
court issue an order for Mr.. Blaine to make
immediate answer to the interrogatores
filed with their amended bill of discovery,
and this being in the nature' Of a chancery
nroceedin0 thav were entitled In 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