The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-17
SUIT ABANDONED.
His Attorneys, Acting Under His In
structiOns, Withdraw the Suit.
Mr.. Blaine Writes a Letter Stating the Rea-
sons for His ActiOn-Mr. ShOemaker's
Remarks-COmment and Gossip.

DISMISSED December 16, 1884 written in red
ink below the title of the suit of James G. Blaine
against the indianapolis Sentinel Company ct
al, is the record of the Unexpectedly abrupt
termination to which this famous case was
brought yesterday morning. Three days ago
the Sentinel filed a petition in court asking that
the trial be stayed until Mr.. Blaine should an
swer the interrogatories accompanying their
amended bill of discovery, and it was
supposed that the courts ruling upon
this motion would practically be the end of the
suit if the plaintiff had no desire to enter upon
a vexatious trial, in which the twisting Of the
technicalities of India-rubber law, . upon points
that would be raised, would deprive him of re
dress for the Infamous attack upon his domestic
life. 1t was the opinion among lawyers gener-
ally, that Mr.. Blaine ought not to allow his do
nestle life to be dragged through the courts, be-
cause the result of the trial would be no meas
ure of redress commensurate with the vexations
to which he would be subjected There was no
little surprise, however, when W. H. Fl. Miller,
of the law firm of Harrison, Miller e Elan, the
attorneys of Mr.. Blaine, appeared in court, yes
terday morning, and filed, under the title of the
suit: THE plaintiff, for the reason stated in the
annexed paper, which is made a part hereof,
moves the court to dismiss this action" The
annexed paper referred to is a letter from Mr..
Blaine, which reads as follows:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 10, 1884.
"Messrs. Harrison. Miller 4 Elan, Counsellors-at-
Law:
"Gentlemen-When I requested you in August
last to bring suit against the publishers of the
indianapolis Sentinel for libel l did so in the be-
lief that the wrong done me by that paper, be-
ing entirely of a personal and domestic charac-
ter, could be fairly tried without undue influence
from political considerations l confess l was
profoundly amazed to find the matter at once
taken up and the libel reproduced with all pos
sible eXaggeration, in every Democratic paper
in Indiana. Except from three members
of the Democratic party of that State,
never heard that a word of dissent
or disapproval was spoken; while the great mass
Of Democratic speakers repeated the libel from
every stump in Indiana with vituperatlve ran
cor, with gibe and ribald jest. 1t was thus made,
so far as any matter of the kind can be made. an
issue in an exciting political campaign, and the
Democrats of the State were thoroughly poisoned
in their minds in regard to the question to be de-
cided at law. Under such conditions it is simply
impossible that L can have a fair trial, or that L
can expect any other result than that which uni
formly attends a political libel suit, growing out
Of an exciting campaign in this country. If L
were unfair enough or foolish enough to desire a
jury composed of my own partisans | could not
haNO H. n BAORSAAl JOY - ANNND
would be composed of members of both political
parties, in about equal proportions. When |
visited Indiana in October | was repeatedly ad-
vised that six Democrats could not be found in
would give a verdict against their
leading party organ. This did not
necessarily convey an imputation upon their per-
sonal integrity as citizens, but simply that the
binding of party prejudice would utterly pre-
vent an impartial consideration of the evidence
submitted. l am perfectly able to fight the Sen
tinel newspaper in an Indiana court but l Y would
stand no chance whatever against the conscil-
dated 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 a trial. The questions
propounded by the bill of discovery have already
been substantially and fully answered by me,
and I am willing to leave my written statement
and answers under oath to the judgment of the
public. l do not choose to have the case indi-
rectly concluded by a technicality or suffered to
die in silence. 1 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 @. BLAINE"
The motion to make the foregoing letter a mat
ter of court record was taken under advisement
by Judge Woods, but the dismissal of the suit was
granted. Later in the day the motion to have the
letter entered upon record was withdrawn.
Judge Turpie, counsel for the Sentinel, gave no.
tice that the chaneery suit to require answers to
the interrogatories accompanying the defendants
bill of discovery wonld be withdrawn to day.
The dispositions which were taken in Kentucky
by the Sentiners attorneys were opened and
made public. They give the testimony of
about fifteen persons, bearing upon the
courtship of Mr.. Blaine and Miss
Stanwood, and the gossip about the two among
the people in the neiehborhood where they lived
during their residence in Kentucky. These
dispositions will remain on file in court, as the
parties to the suit have made made no appllca-
ton for their withdrawal.
Although a surprise, Mr.. Blaine's action in
Withdrawing the suit, was generally approved
in the comment upon the matter. The Sen
tinels guilt of an infamous SANDER
is unquestioned, but there is no doubt that
points could have been raised upon technicalities
of law which would have placed Mr.. Blaine at a
disadvantage. Besides, it would have been well
near impossible to have found q jury, composed
of Democrats as well as Republicans-as would
be required-that would not. from the nature of
the suit, be influenced in a measure by political
prejudice.
The dismissal of the suit is regarded as more
to Mr.. Blaine's credit than his discredit.
Mr.. Blaine's attorneys refused to be inter
viewed in regard to the dismissal of the suit.
and when Mr.. Shoemaker, the publisher of the
Sentinel, was asked what he thought of the
action that had been taken. he replied: ''1ts
what | expected didn't think that Mr. Blame
could afford to go into a trial. We had a great
deal of evidence that l think he would like to
have in his possession"
"Will you now give publication to any of this
evidenced
mo; they've let up on us, and well let the
matter drop now"