The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-04
MAYOR GRACE SUES FOR LIBEL.
He Demands $4,000 Damages for Alleged
Untruthful Statements by the World.

NEW YORK, Dec. 3.-Editor and Congressman
Joseph Pulitzer. of the World, was arrested to-
day at the instance of Mayor Grace, and was re-
CURED to furnish S., 900 bail The Mayor.
through his lawyers, has begun an action in the
Superior Court against Mr.. Pulitzer, claiming
500, 600 damages for alleged libel, growing out of
statements published in the World connecting
the name of Mayor Grace with the failure of the
Marine National Bank, and the firm of Grant &
Ward The Mayor, in his affidavit declaring
Mr.. Pulitzer to be publisher of the
World, states that in the fall of
1884, he had an interview with him, at his resi-
dence, in relation to the course of the World on
political questions at issue, prior to the general
election of 1884 That conversation, Mr. Grace
says. was based upon the assumption that Mr..
Pulitzer could and would control the course of
the paper, as he should deem best, and that he
was the proprietor and editor Mayor Grace in
his complaint sets forth nine different causes of
action against Mr.. Pulitzer for libeous matter
published during October. November and the
present month and says the transactions and
matter referred to in the published
statements about the Marine Bank and Grant &
Ward, occurred in 1883 and 1884, while Mayor
Trace was not in Office Prior to the first time
was the depository of moneys of the city. The
bank failed in May, 1884. as did also the firm of
Grant q Ward. The latter failure, the Mayor says,
was believed to be fraudulent one, and num-
oers OF people were defrauded of money belong
ing to them. During 1888 and 1884 Mayor Grace
had business dealings with the firm of Grant &
Ward, and at the time the firm failed he held it's
paper to considerable amount He charges that
the statements connecting his name with Grant
q Ward and the Marine Bank were malicious
and fal no hal fbo Maxvn vpbi oh
was published on Oct. a. intends to charge him
with fraudulently allowing moneys of the city to
be deposited in a bank which he knew to be
safe, in order to benefit himself and when he
knew the bank to be engaged in wildcat and
dangerous speculalons.
The second cause of action is based upon an
article published on the following day. in which he
is charged with having allowed the citys money to
be placed in a bank the president and two of the
directors of which were interested with him in
the gambling ventures of Grant & Ward.
The third is based on a charge made in the is
sue Of Oct. Ia, of having fraudulently given
privileges to partiesin handling money and bonds
belonging to the city.
AS further cause of action, the Mayor says
that the statement published on Oct. 20 is libel
Gus; that it charged the Mayor with having lost
money belonging to the city to the amount of
81, GOO, 900 in joint-stock venture with Ferd-
nand Ward and others.
The fifth cause Of action lies in an article pub
lshed in the World on Oct %, which, the Mayor
says, accuses him of having conspred with
others, whereby money belonging to the city
was fraudulently distracted and lost to the ity
treasury
A statement published on Nov is the basis
OF the sixth cause of action, which, the Mayor
says, intends to charge him with being engaged
in swindling operations with Ward, and with
having, jointly with Ward and with other swim
dlers, wrecked the Marine Bank; with being
guilty of acts that are crime under the United
States statutes, and with having aided Ward in
wrecking the Marine Bank, and sharing in the
profits Of the transaction.
The seventh cause of action is founded
article published Nov. 13, which charges the
Mayor, as he says, with loaning money to a
swlndling operator-Wa rd-sharing the profits
of his transactions, and with fraudulenty grant
ing Ward monopoly of purchasing revenue
bonds of the city, and with having prostituted his
office for his own pecunary and financial benefit.
For an eighth cause of action, the Mayor saws
that Oh Tuesday the World published an article
charging him with being guilty of the same
crimes for which Ward and Fish have been sent
to prison. and Work and Warner indicted.
The ninth cause of action is based upon a
statement published Oct. Is last making sub
stantiay the same charges as set forth in the
other publications.
These charges. the Mayor says have damaged
him to the extent of $4,000 which is the
amount he sues to recover.
An order for the arrest of Pulitzer was grant
ed by Judge OGorman. and it was placed in the
hands of the order -of-arrest clerk. He found
Editor Pulitzer in his Office in the World build
ing, and temporarily placed him under arrest
The editor expressed no surprise, and appeared
not at all worried about the matter.
Mr.. Pulitzer gave bail in So, 00O