The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1888-02-10
ACTIVELY WORKING
Libel SUIT.
Special to Bulletin:

Special to Bulletin:
jackson, Tenn, Feb. 6, 1888
The aged and queer looking court.
house Of Madison county appeared
this morning to be place eagerly
sought by an excited multitude.
Before the hour of nine had arrived
the court room was packed from
the walls to the bar ratings with
the expectant crowd. Why, all
this? They had come to hear the
trial of the great Howard Libel
Suit, wherei4 the Rev. Frederick
Howard, ID. d., sues sixteen mem
bers of the First Baptist Church of
this city, also the Tennessee Baptist,
the Chattanooga Reflector, and the
Forked Deer Blade for damages to
the amount of $4,000. At the open
ing hour, 9 o'clock, Judge Levi S.
Woods ascended- the rostrum, an
commanded silence in the court
room. The man who claims that
his fair name and reputation has
been debauched to the xamount of
fifty thousand took Ibis seat insi lie
the bar with his attorneys, Messrs.
Pitts, Hays, and Meeks The attor>
neys tor the defense, Messrs. Bul-
lock, Anderson anil Inge, were also
promptly on hand. Or. Howard
seemed to be target for all eyes-a
steady gaze poured in upon him
from every quarter. He Ioo'is to
be in tfle health, but his face gives
unmistakabe signs of the detection
and disgrace which he feels within.
Judge Woods announced that the
court was ready to hear any mo-
tons Of a preliminary character
which counsel might desire to make
on any matter in the case now pend
ing. No motion being made, he
announced that the court would
proceed to hear the Howard Libel
Suit. Where upon NJ. Bullock for
the defense rose and stated to the
court that the plaintiff had asked
one week ago tor ruling that would
allow the investigation of certain
deposihons taken by the defendants
and which, the plaintiff believed had
been tempered with and changed
Mr.. Pitts, for the plaintiff, rose and
stated that the plaintiff had become
satisfied regarding the deposltions,
and that he would not insist on the
rule asked tor. Mr.. Pitts then an
nounced that the plaintiff, DIR.
Howard, was ready for the trial. This
came like a thunder~clap to the de-
PENDANTS. They had believed all
along that Towards attorneys would
put off the trial In fact they mad
stated publicly that they were ready
and would insist on a trial, and tina
the plaintiff was net ready and would
not go into trial So this bomb
created eopsternatlen III. the camp
Of the defendaEts-the tables were
turned. It-was victory for Howard.
The attorneys for the defense stag
gered at the unexpected situation.
They held consultation, and found
that they were not ready for trial
! Mr. Bullock rose and said that he
believed that certain dispositions
which had been taken by the com
plainanr in. England, ana had been
received by the circuit clerk here
were a fraud or hal been tempered
with, and that he wanted time to in
vestIgate them. The court granite
time, and so the Gaze viii pass over
until tomorrow evening, when il
will be called again.
Although public opinion here is
strong against Howard, yet the
failure Of the defense to enter into
a trial, after having boosted that
they We're ready and anxious. Is re-
garded as a strong point in HowaId's
favor.
The city is full of BaptIst who
have gathered IN to hear the sAIa.
elous detail Of this great SANDER
suit. Il will require at least fifteen
days to get through,
] Su.cial 10 BuIlatir,.