Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-24
LETTERS STILL GO.
Mrs. Johanna Pfeil Loses Her Libel
Suit Against Frank Kohen.
SECRETS OF THE LICENSE COURT.
The Judges Like to Have All the Appli-
cantS Questioned.
NEWS OF THE VARIOUS COUNTY COURTS

Frank P. Kohen, an Allegheny saloon
keeper, was placed on trial before Judge
Stowe yesterday afternoon on charge of
libel preferred by Mrs. Johanna Pfeil This
case is an echo of the last license court,
when Mrs. Pfeil was asked some very
pointed and pertinent questions by Attor-
new Christv. The questions asked made
the plaintiff appear to be woman of intem-
perate and bad character. These charges
We're positively denied by Mrs Pfeil at the
time, but notwithstanding this denial, she
was refused a license A short time after
ward the suit for libel was brought against
kohen, and it was alleged that he had fur
nished Mr.. Christy with the questions that
were put at Mrs. PfeiL The plaintiff was
represented by John Marion and John S.
Robb., Esq, while J. Scott Ferguson cared
for the defense.
Edward Hesser, Law and Order detective,
was the first witness examined. He was
shown two letters, which he admitted hav-
ing had in his possession and stated that he
got them in Mr.. Christy's office. The first
of these letters was signed by I. p. kohen,
who addressed Mr.. Christy rs ''Comrade"
and closed with ''yours in T. C. and L.
This letter solicited an interview with Mr..
Christy as Mr. Kohen had a friend whose
license application he was interested in.
The other letter was unsigned and contained
the charges against Mrs. Pfeil.
Fooled the Licence Attorney.
!. Clark, a clerk in the Allegheny Bank,
testified that he was familiar with the writ
ing Of Mr.. Kohen. The witness was shown
the letters and pronounced them to be the
handwriting of Mr.. Kohen.
q. b. Perkins, a private detective, testi-
fed to having received the two letters from
Mr.. Hesser. These letters he sent to Chi
cago and had Photographic copy made of
them. These copies he gave to Mr.. Hesser,
who replaced them in Mr.. Christy's office.
The original letters were retained by the
witness.
William Logan testified to having had
talk with Mr.. kohen, after Mrs Pfeil's
examination in License Court, and he ad-
mitted having written to Mr.. Christy.
The prosecution rested at this point, and
the defense called b. C. Christy, Esq, Mr..
Christy testified TO having been employed
in the License Court. He received one let
ter through the mail from Mr.. Kohen re-
ouesting an interview which was never had
The second letter containing the questions
to be asked Mrs. Pfeil was found in his book
in the License Court. Mr.. Christy did not
know who placed it there, or who the au-
thor of it was.
f. P Kohen, the defendant, was next
placed on the stand. He admitted writing
the first letter to Mr.. Christy requesting an
interview, but denied most positively writ
ing the second letter, or knowing ANYTHING |
about it. The witness did not send anyone |
to see Mr.. Christy about Mrs. Pfeil, nor did |
he see him himself.
Attorney Robb proceeded to crOss-ex-
anime Mr., KOhen on the second letter, |
when Mr. Ferguson objected on the grounds |
that the witness had not been examined in |
chief on that subject, and the court sus-
tanned the objection.
Judge Stowe Kills the Case.
Judge Stowe then remarked that there |
was no evidence of libel in the case There |
was nothing wrong in sending questions to |
lie asked Of applicants in the License Court. 1
This was a thing the Court had invited, and |
the Judges of the Court might Just as well /
be indicted, as they had asked many ques-
tions of Just such a character. 1t
was right and proper for anyone TO appear
in court if they knew anything against an
applicant, but people make mistake if, /
instead of coming openly into court, they |
sit in back rooms and write scandalous let
ters. The Judge intimated that this manner
of doing business was wrong, and 1t would |
be different if he was on the bench. But in
the manner in which the court had been con-
Quoted the sending of the paper was all
right, and His Honor could see no libel in
It, and there was nothing to justify ver-
diet of guilty.
After a short consultation the attorneys,
in view of the remarks of the Court, made
no arguments Judge Stowe instructed the
jury to find a verdict of not guilty, which
was done, and the costs divided.