Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-03-18
CAME TO A CONCLUSION
The Haterfus Case. which L. sequel
GO the Nybladh Litigation. Ended---
Troubse Originating I'm Rock IsIaua.

The Hsterfus Case. which L. q sequel
60 the Nybladh Litigation, Ended---
Trouble Originating I'm Rock Isiana.
The trial OF Peter Msguusson against
Rev. @. J. Z. Haterius. which has been on
trial before Judge Smith In Galesburg. has
been brought to conclusion. The
trouble grew out of the publication last
November In the HemUannen, of this
city. OF letter written to that paper by
the Rev. @. j. E. Haterius. of Gsiesburg.
The declaration of the plaintiff contains
what purports TO be literal translation.
The letter refers to the insulting commu-
nications and epithets to which Mr..
Haterius and others were subjected. to
the burning of the residence of Mr.. Gus
tsfson and to other sensational events
growing out of the Nybladh case A
Galesburg paper says:
The hill set up that the letter accuses
Magnusson of having had hand in
these things or of being guilty of arson.
etc. For these intimations the plaintiff
asked 5000. The defendant, Haterius,
the other day made to the plaiutiff a ten
der OF one cent aud costs accrued at the
time the trial began. and this was accept
ed by the plaintiff. The attorneys for
the plaintiff tried to secure a ruling
| which would compel the defendant to pay
their fees. but Judge Smith held that this
position was untenable. The defense
having made tender and having admit
ted the publication of the libelous article.
there rested upon it the burden of prov.
| ing that no further damage was done by
| IL to Magnusson's character than was in
Dictated by the amount of the tender. The
testimony adduced by the defense to show
the reputation of Magnusson was To the
general effect that it is not good. and that
he is one given to stirring up strife and
litigation. The testimony of the Rev. G..
j. h. Haterius showed the circumstances
under which he wrote the article. He
had been Informed. previous 10 the writ.
ing of the article. of the threat made 10
MIR. Gustafson by MIR. Magnusson. IN
fix you" He had knowledge of the two
white or fire cap letters received by Mr..
Gustafson. One of these letters was
written before the destruction of the
Gustafson house by fire and threatened t.
burn Gustafson out; the other was dated
November 12, after the burning OF the
GustafsOn residence, alluded to this fact
and made filthy and obscene threats ms "a
what would happen unless Mr.. Gustafsou
kept his mouth shut. These letters wer,
read To the jury by Mr.. Lawrence. The
second letter was read by Mr.. Haterus
before he wrote his newspaper article
The evidence was that about the same
time he received himself personal let.
ter threatening fire. The article was
written subsequently,. or on the 10th OF
November. Mr.. Haterius said in his
evidence: 81 got another letter about the
same time that Gustafson did. think
IL Is in the hands of the government The
anonymous letters read to the jury are
those 10 which referred in my article.
knew at the time that Gustafson's house
had been burned" The court ruled out
as too broad question as to whether
MIR. Hatcrius charged or intended tC
charge arson on Mr.. MagnussOn in thai
article.
The evidence of Magusson denied al
knowledge OF the writing OF the anony-
nous letters. and contained the statement
that he was in Chicago when Gustsfson's
house was burned.
The jury was out but short time. aud
although it was half-past IL Saturday
when they went out. the members were
back IN court ready to return verdict al
2 O'Clock. Before going to dinner they
took one ballot which settled the matter
The verdict was that the amount of the
tender. one cent and the payment oi
- 20 in costs. was sufficient This "a q
goes to the circuit clerk. The payment
OF the rest of the costs. which is estimated
at from $500 to $500. falls on the plain.
tiff