New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-30
THE HART-TowNsEND LIBEL CASE.
EXTRACTS FROM TRUTH READ TO PROVE THE
CHARACTER OF THE PAPER.

EXTRACTS FROM TRUTH READ TO PROVE TIE
CHARACTER OF THE PAPER.
John D. Townsend sat behind big pile OF
Truth files in Justice Van Vorss court yesterday hor
ing when the libel case of Joseph Hart against 1eoFse
Alfred Townsend was resumed Mr. Hart took the stapd
and Mr. Townsend began the crOss-examnation at the
point where he left off the day before After the witness
had identified the articles, Mr. Townsend
commenced reading extracts from the paper,
in order he said to show its lack OF character anu
prove tho truth of George Alfred Townsends statement
that 1t was established for purposes Of plumber An Albany
dispatch reporting speech OF Senator jacob seeoac
in which Truth was denounced as avie, infamous
Matchmaking sheet run by blaekmaers and dlsreputaoe
nersops and an extract from The Herald, repubshed IN
T, charging that it was filthy and despicaDie sheet
and the third organ Of John Kelly, were read.
Chow long is this reading TO last y asked the Justice
"Unt yaur Honor and the jury are perfectly satisheu
that our case il right" said Mr.. Townsend. " have
enough TO last two three days and will continue unh
your Honor tells mo to STOP"
He then read an article from Truth containing yru-
lent attack on churches characerzng them as hoDeuS
of vice and rs places used for immoral purposes
81 wish TO put IN evidence, your Honor" said MI
Townsend 'three indictments against Joseph Hart-one
dated December g. for criminal libel against James A.
Garfield and two dated respectively October = 1851
and June D. 1881, for mislemeanOrs and record OF
conviction dated September 8, 1881"
In regard the lottery business Mr. Hart testhed aV
the paper began publication Of lottery advertisements
at an early date and kept 1t up until after his con-
viction. After some further reading the wit
ness was handed over TO his counsel for redirect exa
nation The question Of the MOrey letter was taken mp
and Mr. Newcombe asked: Did you believe the Morey
letter to be genuine when the fac-simile was printed In
Hqfthl"
81 did"
"what grounds had yOu for such belief"
CATER we had received the letter took It with the
envelope to the Democratic Headquartrs and had CON
sultation in regard to with Of the members OF the
Democratic National Committee" 80
''Who present at that cOnferencef" -
"Mr. William II. BaInum, the Chairman ~ the Demo
tbrn sneaker of the House OF representatives. Nh scott
of Erie, PENN Congressman Ahram :. Hewitt, EDWARD
Cooper ana nun9sf oil olher gentlemen III i''U
What done at the conferencel ~ D.-,.,,,
"Tbe letter and envelope handed 70 Mr. Barnun'
who, after examining them, handed them 70 Mt tlu'
lie examined them carefully ana sara tla NJ couu WIZ
out hesitation pronounce the etter pom pu{ anu Ia
ure, in the handwriting OF James 4 6arnem re saIu
that he had been familiar vita Mr.. Garieds hand writing
for twenty years and was certain Of what he SAID
"What WAS done ncXtF go - - -
"Mr Hewitt took the letter AMI with Mr.. Cooper e1-
amnc it very carefully for fully fifteen minutes ia con
necuon with some other papers Tllc1 ne sd ne a ,h
signature thatof Garfield, but was not certain OF le
body OF the letter He said ne would compare u WIN
some other letters he had OF Mr GaTdelds ana ne was
convinced would from the rO7trum on the
next night lie announced that the signature was gem
After the publication of the fac-simile what efforts did
/ you make to establish the truth Of tne letter. ,
y .r
he could about Morey. lie reported that one o. =
Wilson was ahead hl and had procured an the tNl
dcncc Of Horey's existence re got me motel res.e
i'm which MOrcy name, and found the IhOlher anu
! another relation of Morcy, she testified
! "WhO was O. \. Wilson,
lie was a man employed by the Democratic National
| Committee His name urucd Out 90 DE II. H. Hti.ey;-
The witness further testified tdat the Democratic Nd
tlonal Committee had acrWard sent him what puipoei
TO be inc relscruIthc kirkland Ousewtth Ncley nan,
in H. He employed detectives 70 ferret out the auhor OF
the letpraud kept them nc work for coupi OF nom
| Nh. NewcouDc created % sensation by saving " ne
eve that produce tomorrow the original dlalt o.
| the MOrey letter. 1T, ,,,
We can show that that letter manufactured IN tho
! the office Of the paper" said Mr.. Townsend ~,
A otterfron w. =. Hutchings Of The washington f0s,'
| iuclOsug one from Robert Lindsay, OF Cumberland,
/ MARYLAND was offered in evidence aud Mr. Ne7c0MDe
read an affidavit pufpOrng 10 come nom Lindsay, Whch
/ appeared in ruth.
| =" Where did you yet that a1fdavltP
/ IL came the Office on maLifold-I suppose from
| the Democratic National Committee"
= The witness added IN a low tone: NJ. Barnum the
! chairman OF the Democratic National Committee, paid
$500 to haveit inserted" , u..,
In answer o. questions Mr Hart said that Wilson or
iIad.y had brought Lindsay and MOrey TO the city to
testify m regard TO the Morcy letter
alter the reading further extracts from run
by Mr. Necombe establish the htgl moral character or
that paper the hearing adjourned untl TINS morn
ing.