St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-15
STILL STUBBORN.
Blaine, Through His Counsel, Still Re-
.fusing to Answer InterrogatOries
in the Libel Suit.
Which Greatly Retards the Trial and Causes
Many Unfavorable Comments Against
the Defendant.
Especial Telegram to the Globe. |

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept 14.-Judge Woods
returned from Fort Wayne and gave notice of
his readiness to hear the arguments upon the
motion of the Indianapolis Sentinel for
rule compelling James G. Blaine, plaintiff in
the libel suit, to answer the interrogatio6e filed
to the Seatinel'S answer few days ago.
Senator Harrison, the plaintiffs leading at
torney, led off with a statement that he
would resist the granting of the rule, but
said that of their own violation the plaintiffs
consul would at an early day answer the in
terrogatories and file the answers with the
court Judge Wood interrupted the proceed
ing to explain that as the practice of this
court had been not to admit these interroga-
tories, that as JudgeDrummond was practically
off the bench as circuit judge, and as his
successor is soon to be appointed, he thought
a consultation with the incoming judge proper
before passing upon question of this kind.
He further indicated that it would be as well
for all parties for the decision to be withheld,
since the plaintiff had stated that the inter
rogatories would be answered in few days.
Judge Turpie, one of the defendants coun
sci, here stated that if the plaintiff would in
dicate time within few days for making
an answer, the defense would make fur
ther argument. Senator Harrison declined
to name day, limiting himself to saying
the answers will be filed very soon. Mr..
Jones, for the defense, read section 359 of
the revised statutes of 1881, which
says: ''Either party may PROFOUND
interrogatories to be filed with the pleadings
relevant to the matter in controversy, and
require the opposite party to answer the
same under oath. All interrogatories must
be answered in the time limited positively
and without evasion, and the court may en-
force the answer by attachment or other
wise. He then read section GA of the
United States Revised Statutes of 1878,
which reads: 'The practice of pleadings and
forms and modes of proceeding in civil cases
shall conform as near as may be to
the practice of pleadings and forms
and modes of proceeding existing
| at the time in like cases
in the courts of record of the state within
which such circuit or district courts are held,
any rule of court to the contrary notwith-
standing" On these authorities Mr.. Jones
chiefly based his argument. Gen. Harrison
on the part of the plaintiff, confined his ar
gument to citing cases in the United States
courts, as follows: Neighbors VS.. Gibson,
16 Blackford, page 1886; decided in
1879. Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance
company VS.. Schaffner, ga supreme
court reports, page 457; Beardsley VS.. Little.
ct al, II Blackford; case decided by
Judge Lowell and the case decided by Judge
Dwyer.
Judge Turple, for the defense, said: ~
do not know what the learned gentlemen in
tended by saying in substance that the filing
of the interrogatories was not made in earn
est. Certainly the most earnest language
was used. There has been time to answer,
and they have not been answered yet, the
plaintiff in the case might have answered
even before this argument is heard if he had
seen fit to give the information
contained in them. If he had seen fit to
give the court the very ordinary information
which the family Bible of every gentlemen
who contracted a matrimonial alliance con-
tains < x < We think we are entitled to q
ruling upon this question, for we are as anx-
ious as the gentlemen on the other side fol
an early trial, and that is one of the reasons
for obtaining an answer to the interroga
tions. X x \ He might expedite trial
There is one PERSONS evidence
we are entitled to in advance, Il
this trial is to be expedited. The name o1
that witness is concience, the concience o
the plaintiff. We are seeking an answer
from that. The deliberate attempt to sup
press, prevent and delay such answers is al
most eliminating. The long, unbroker
silence is almost as eliminating as confes
sion itself. 4 NJ The iSeltine
will Immediately take other steps for com
pelling an answer from Blaine.