Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-09
AN EXAMINATION WAIVED.
Messrs. Crane and Schade Appear In
the Police Court.

the Police Court.
Capt Symons, who swore out warrants against
Editor Louis Schade of the Seratine. and John
il. Crane, the commission merchant, as pub
lished in yesterdays STAR, was at the Police
Court this morning. It was understood that
the cases would be tried today, but Detective
Mattingiy had not served the warrants at 8
O'Clock. About II o'clock he served the war
rants on Editor Schade and accompanied him
to the Police Court. Then he started out for
Mr.. Crane.
THE ALLEGED LIBEL
The article which forms the basis Of the
prosecution, as published in yesterdays STAR,
is set forth at length in the warrant 1t is
headed Astounding Disclosures" and goes on
to say that zone of the boldest and most fraud
ulent jobs ever imposed upon the inhabitants
of this ring-ridden District is that connected
with the south pier Of the new
free bridge" The article recites various
statements purporting to have been
made by Capt Symons concerning reported
the June freshet The article denies the state
ments which Capt Symons was quoted as
making, alleging that part of the foundations
OF the pier had been washed away and the pier
was sinking or topping and out of plumb. 1t
goes on to say that lit appears that the motive
for putting in circulation this false report was:
First, to exonerate the contractors who re-
Gently constructed the new iron bridge on the
old piers" Then it is asserted substantially
that this iron bridge is an unstable, poorly
constructed affair. The name OF MIR. Crane was
attached to the article.
The second warrant, which was sworn out
only against Editor Schade, was based on an
editorial published in the same edition of the
paper inviting attention to and commenting
on Mr.. Cranes article.
AN EXAMINATION WAIVED.
AS soon as MIR. Crane was informed that he
was wanted on charge Of criminal libel he
went with his counsel, Mr.. A. Il. Williams, to
the Police Court, where he found the warrant.
Mr.. Williams remarked that he did not care
to take up time fighting shadow and he would
therefore waive an examination. He did not
care to read the warrant, he said, because life
was too short.
The examination being waived Judge Miller
sent the case on to the grand jury and fixed
bail at $500.
MR.. scHADE ALSO WAVES EXAMINATION.
Mr.. X. S. Davis appeared for Mr.. Schade and
he also waived an examination, and bail in his
case was fixed at the same amount as in Mr..
Cranes case.
Both gentlemen gave the required bail
WHAT MIR. scHADE SAYS.
Mr.. Louis Schade. being seen by a reporter of
The STAR, said: shortly before 1 left on a
western trip, from which I only returned last
night, Mr. Crane handed me the article which
hastily read over, but finding citations from
The STAR and an interesting historical sketch
of the building of the Aqueduct bridge,
with figures and facts, saw no reason not to
publish it, as believed it to be in the interest
of the public and as it was simply criticising
tainly had no personal or libelous intent
against Capt Symons, who is personally
unknown to Inc. The editorial article, for
which q second warrant has been issued against
me, was written after I had left the city and
| never saw it until | read it in the
attention to Mr.. Cranes long article
and in my opinion does not contain
any libelous matter; but shall not shirk any
responsibility for it after it has appeared in my
paper. l think this matter concerns every
citizen of the District. Public officers must
allow their official acts to be criticized If any
wrong has been done by Mr.. Crane in his state.
mcnt shall certainly make the amende honor
able. But that has first to be shown, as am
not going to be frightened by any suits"
MIR. Crane Upon the Libel Suit
To the Editor of TIE EVENING STAR.
THE STAR of yesterday contains the an.
nouncement that Capt. Thomas W. Symons has
sworn out q warrant for the arrest OF Mr. Louis
Schade, editor of the Sentinel and the under.
signed, on a charge of criminal libel. Allow
me to say that it is not my purpose to libel
any one, and if Capt. Symons will show that
anything 1 have said of him is untrue will
promptly make the amende honorable, giving il
the widest publicity possible. With regard tc
the "toppling pier article, beg leave to say
| that I, with others, have tried in vain for sew.
eral months to get an official statement as to
whether that pier is out of plumb, and if So
how much, but without success.
l have seen two tests made by private parties
| and each time this pier was shown to BIO plumb
equally as plumb as the one next to it, Now
If it can be shown by competent engineers who
arc disinterested that this so-called ''toppling
pier" is from four to seven inches out OF
| plumb, as was stated last summer, then I will
publicly retract all that have said or written
| that in any way reflects on Captain Symons, SO
far as his connection with this pier is concerned
But until this is done l firmly adhere to all
that l have said, while at the same time
l disclaim any intention to do the captain in
Justice. do not know him. not even by sight.
| 1t Is with his official acts that /. am dealing
They are public property and while live in
| tend to exercise my right as an American citi.
zen to criticise the conduct of all officials
W in ha mt of