The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-09-25
THE BLAINE LIBEL CASE.

counsel for Shoemaker Make Application
to the Court for Order Compelling
Blaine to Answer their IuterrOgatOries In
Order to Make Out Their Defense, Other
wise That Proceedings be Perpetually
Stayed.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND, September 10.
In the United States District Court yes
terday afternoon the attorneys for Mr..
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
the original complaint in the suit, the
6eRttnet's answer, accompanying the in
tGrrOgatOries and reply of Blaine's at
torneys. The bill then states that after
filing the interrogatories, Shoemak-
er's attorneys on the 9th of
September, moved the court
for a rule against Blaine to answer the
same within specified time, to be fixed
by the Court, which motion was argued
on September 13, and overruIed. The bill
then goes on to say that in order to sus-
tain the defense, justification pleaded by
Shoemaker, it will be necessary and ma
terial for the orators to show and prove
that Blaine had Illicit relations with and
seduced the person whom he afterward
married, the result of said intercourse
DG1D8 the DlElu Oh Cu1lQ III ADOub 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 and hastily &C
complished; that no license was is
sued by any authority for such mar
riage, none being required by the laws of
Pennsylvania at that time; that no public
official record was kept or made for the
same reason; that one Bryan, the min
lister who officiated at the said marriage,
has been dead several years, and that Ii
any private memoranda or record of the
Iriage 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 q Professor at an institution of
learning at Millersburg, Ky, that Miss
StanWood was an inStructreSs in u fe-
male school at the same place, and
that they there became acquainted.
Both were unmarried, and Blaine ad-
dressed Miss Stanwood as suitOri that
he gained her confidence, and IL
licit relations followed; that a short
time before said marriage Jacob Stan
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 her; 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
Iai hn
persons were is known to the orators.
The 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-
| fense, as stated in their plea of justihca-
| ton; 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
propounded, all the circumstances
! being fully known to him, and a full and
] complete discovery of said facts from
| and by Blaine is necessary to the orators
in their defense in aid of such other tcs-
! timony as may be procurable. Unless
| this is done, the orators cannot 50 fully
| set out and completely show and
! prove the facts necessary to the
! defense. The orators, therefore, pray
| that a full and complete discovery be made
| by Blaine in relation to facts heretofore
stated, and to that end that he be sum-
/ moned to answer the-same under oath.
| The bill closes by asking that writ OF
subpoena be issued out of chancery for
| Blaine, and that he be ordered to an-
swer particularly the interrogatories
that proceedings be stayed until
| Blaine may answer. That in case
Blaine fails to answer said bill,
or fully and truly to answer interroga-
tories, further proceedings be perpet-
uaIly stayed and restrained. No action
| taken.