New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-03
A LIBEL JUDGMENT REVERSED.
SUIT OF A CLEVELAND APPolNTEE
rEE ONLY LARGE VERDICT EVER GIVEN
AGAINST THE TRIBUNE ASSOCIATION
SET ASIDE.

SET ASIDE.
The General Term of tho supreme Court yeS'er"aS
reversed the Judgment for over S",ooo oo'aneo ny
Alexander J. Cameron in 1887 against The tribune
Association for tho publication of two alleged ooIs
IN the columns of The Tribune in May 1850. This
reversal wipes out the only judgment in libel suit
for ANYTHING more than nominal damages that has
hsen recovered against The Tribune Association in
moro than twenty Eve years.
cameron was appointed a special agent at Panama
Nv the Treasury Department under the Cleveland Ad-
ministratIou and The Tribune published dispatch
nom boston criticising tho appointment and giving
details OF cameron's bad record. including his con
viction and imprisonment for crimes under the laws
of Maine and also his Irregularities as state Printer
When the charges against Cameron were brought to
the attention Of secretary Manning, lie directed Cam
eron make his answer aud subsequently discharged
him, telling him that II was more than the Depart
ment could carry Thercupon Cameron brought the
suit against The Tribune claiming that the publica-
tions had deprived him Of his place. for which he
suffered $4,000 damages and asking $4,000 general
damages besides.
Upon the trial II shown and not disputed by
Cameron that he made midnight assault with
pistol upon his unarmed uncle, threatening TO Elh
him IL he did not deliver up a certain instrument
made between them; that he had repeatedly
been convicted and had served term
In prison for violation OF the Maine liquor
laws and that no had repeatedly admitted ana even
boosted that he had sold for Cd JUNK volumes Vi
the official reports OF the State OF Maine which ne
had on his hands state Printer 10 bind The story
told by the plaintiff on the stand was one OF the
most extraordinary tales ever related by piaintH
In a libel suit He said that he told his partner
that he sent the reports down to Boston to be sod
for old Junk but that in reality he secretly hld them
away IN the garrett Of his house In Augusta Inc
Jury wcrc evidently led 10 believe from the Judge
charge that 1t would be proper 10 give The pialh,u
The damages he claimed for loss OF his place IN NE
Treasury Department lie claimed that he would
have obtained 81 500 year for the remainder OF The
Cleveland Administration about 10000. Inc ne
PENDANT commended that II WAS CamerOn's own Dad
record and not the publication that caused seceSl5
Manning 10 discharge him. ,
Tho General Term rcvel the judgment for various
errors Justices Brady and Macomber holdng thsi
the defendant was preudiccd by the exclusion OF
evidence that showed that Cameron was an eA'e9h.ot
other Judges in the opinion that the defendant should
n at were excluded As the judgment is reveIs "a iof
the reasons given by them the judges cons DER u u
necessary TO pass upon question whether CameiIon
could recover any damage for losing his place. Wnehcr
the publication privileged and DINER QueSIune
raised by the defendant Wallace Mactar!ahe replc,,
sented Cameron James G.. Carter was the coune
and Sackett & Bennett we're the attorneys TOT Inc
Tribune Association.