Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-12
Guiteau.S Bones.

THE SUIT OF REV. MR.. HICKS AGAINST ''THE
EVENING STAR" FOR ALLEGED LIBEL.
The trial of the suit OF Rev. W. w. Hicks.
formerly pastor of the Tabernacle church. in
South Washington. against The EVENING
STAR Company, claiming S35, 900 damages for
alleged libel, was begun in Circuit Court, No.
i, before Judge Cox to-day. The alleged libel
was contained In an interview published with
District Attorney Corkhll, in which reference
was made to a report that Mr.. Hicks had ne
gotiated for the transfer OF the bones of Chas. J.
Guiteau, the assassin of President Garfield to
the Medical museum for 81 900. DIR. Hicks
acted as spiritual adviser to Guiteau before the
execution.
in'respOnse TO note he received on the 9th of
June, 1882, he became the spiritual adviser of
Guiteau, and visited him as such. He iden-
titled the paper purporting to be the will of
Guiteau, bequeating him his remains, and
stated that after Guiteaus death the body was
turned over TO him; that the body was buried
in the Jail building temporarily, and it was SUBJ
sequently transferred to the army medical
museum. Word had been sent him by the war
den that 1t was necessary to remove the
body. Witness communicated with Dr.
Lamb, who arranged tor the removal OF the
removed. Subsequently he made q formal
deed. Witness Identified the correspondence,
which was read, including the copy of the
deed, or indenture, transferring the body TO
c. II. Crane and his successors in office in
which the provision is made that the bones
shall never be exhibited for mercenary pur-
II.
Croggon, of The STAR, on June 27th, before
the execution, called on him and made to him
a proposition, that he would furnish certain
pages OF his journal to HIM to be disposed of for
purposes of his own. He finally agreed to give
an hour to shorthand reporter. The agree
ment was not. however, carried out, because of
failure TO keep the appointment and because
he had changed his views as to the
propriety of 1t. After the execution witness
had several conversations with Mr.. Croggon,
and at the Jail the night before and the morn ing
of the execution. Mr.. Croggon showed some
feeling and regret that he had not been furnished
some Information. In front Of the City Hall
afterwards he met Mr.. Oregon, and the con-
versation was resumed as TO his failure to fur
nish the information, and he was threatened
that THE STAR had helped to build him up and
could pull men down. He was threatened by
CroggOn with the vengeance OF THE STAR.
On cross-examination witness testified that
he was a citizen of Florida, and had been for
IA or Is years. Was engaged in orange grow
ing.
DR.. Charles Allen testified that he resided at
All 18th street southwest. that the paper ex-
hibited, THE STAB, containing the alleged libel,
was purchased by him at THE STAR office on
January 25th, 1882.
Mr.. Coyle made the point that there was a
variance between the declaration and the
alleged lbelous publication.
The objection was overruied.
The prosecution closed its case.
The defendant, by Mr.. Coyle, moved that the
jury return verdict for defendant, on the
ground that there was no proof that the article
w ht1f yvQS lad