New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-16
IUPUDENT LIBEL.
TRYING TO BULLY GREAT DRY-GOODS
HOUSE

AND GETTING INTO JAIL AND POLICE COURT
By 1T.
The two men, Romondt and Garrett, who were
arrested last Monday for buting which
contained libeous illusions to the firm OF H. ONell
d Co. were examined yesterday afternoon in the
jefferson Market Police Court. Justice White, who
was busy with series of cases in the courtroom,
permitted the examination TO proceed In ms alb
sence a steuographer being present to take the tes-
timOny Late il the afternoon the Justice appeared
in the small room where the examination was gong
forward. One of the prisoners, komonot, Is q DARK
mulatto 1t was he who first detected III the
act of giving the Objectionable circulars 10 persons
in Twentieth-st. and Sixth-ave, near Mr. ONellIs
store. The circulars were headed Win tIe words
Boycott ONeill & Coz, and contained dIsreput-
able language in addition to false accusations
against Nj. ONell. IL all originated with some
striking printers whom TIE TkIBuNE, Tor good
cause put out. some time ago, and who have since
been engaged in the groteSqUe folly OF trying TO
frlghten and bully houses like ONelll Il Co. out of
advertising in TIE TRIBUNE by threats OF with
drawing their patronage. Nobody paid any
attention 10 that, but when they took
TO distributing libellous circulars IN front OF ms
store, Mr. O'Ncill concluded to stop their meddlng
with his business and hbelling him, and SO had
The onIy witnesses examined for the prosecution
were II. o Neill and William g. Thomas, bis book
keeper. The latter, who was first called and
told of the manner IN which ne detected Romoudt
and Garrett at the work which had been given
them by tie Union, identified the prisoners,
and continued:
saw Romondt above the store, going up the street,
putting copies OF the circular inO the hands OF the
people a. they passed him. thought recognized the
papers because had received some Of them by mail
time before. went after him and he gave me some
OF the circulars. 1t not long alterwad that saw
who his name Is Garrett gong along
the south side of tine street followed MIN and he also
gave me one of the papers. took them into the store
aud gave tn IN Nc ONeil. It. was about two weeks
ago that got the circulars ny mail Ihey were te SAINT
"a those when got from those two men. know TINS
because read th,m over gave those copies also To
Mr. O'Neill
The witness was asked if there could be any
question as to the identity of the O'Neill * Co.
alluded to in tine circular. He said he had beard of
a firm with "A similar name Which was engaged in
the iTon trade, but there was none ln the business
of selling dry goods. trimming, millinery, or any
thing of that kind. He could not say
that the defendants the men who
distributed the circulars two weeks ago. u
know they were circulated for days he added,
but cannot say to what number. cannot tell
whether these men went around with them every
day not"
Mr. ONeill was simply examined as to the state
ments made i'll his affidavit. lie said:
knew three weeks before the arrested that
the circulars being distributed They were usually
carried around on Monday OF each week saw one man
distributing them at tine southwest corner OF SXth-aye
and Twentieth-st.
The defence called various printers and tried to
divert the trial into statement OF their version OF
the strike at HE TKIB office, but on the oblec
ton OF Douglass Campbell VINO appeared Tor the
prosecution, this testimony was ruled out as wholly
irrelevant. On the discrimination Mckay, an
officer of the Typographical Union, was pressed
with inquiries to the origin OF the circular, ana
declared that he did not know OF his own knowl-
edge" by whom 1t was printed or published. When
asked if he had any thing TO do with 1t, he refused
TO answer .
Cole. member of the Typographical Union,
testified thatln his opinion the circular was pub
lished and distributed by the Union.
McCabe another member OF the Union, testified
TO a conversation which he had with Mr.. ONeill,
when he presented demand that Mr.. O'Nelll should
stop advertising IN HE TRIBUNE. lie was one OF
a committee OF two. he SAID:
When spoke 10 Mr.. O'Neil, he said that he had al.
ready received insulting letter from the Typographical
Union | asked him 10 let il. Ie answered that
he had put il where would hear OF IL again. When
told him that what wanted 10 say To- him was OF great
importance Us, he treated us nsultingly.
Mr.. Cdmpbell-I object
The witness-Well, dscourteously then.
Mr.. Campbel-I object Yon must tell what he did and
SAID. -
The wtness-He turned his back me, and said that
he wanted nothing more TO do with us.