St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-21
The Pioneer Press Likely to
Have Companions in the
Same Misery.
Coolest Weather Of the Season
to Swoop Down Upon Us
by Sunday.
Why Pugilistie Pat Killen Has
a Poor Opinion Of the
Statutes.

Ills dll6SGu tIduuCeI, IuG IlOuccI L IGSS.
The expert IN reviving ancient history
disclaims the right of his erstwhile
friend to reproduce a back number of
literature that refers in no pleasant
terms to his own official career. The
Sage of Nininger, the author of Caesars
Column" "Atlantis" and the theory
that Bacon. and not Shakespeare, wrote
the literature ascribed by COM
mon consent to the latter, supposed
the letter of VS. King, of Minneapolis
written some dozen years agO-had
been so completely buried in oblivion
that no one hencefOrth cared to or would
reSurrect or reproduce it. But, in the
midst of an ascending political career,
Mr.. Donnelly awoke one morning to see
the letter that he thought was forgotten
reproduced in the paper that Was wont
in former times to herald his praise.
He then sought his late colleague in the
political arena--the noted lawyer, w.
w. Erwin-aud after consultation the
Pioneer Press was asked to make a
thorough and complete retraction of the
damaging statements in the King let
ter. This was followed up by an action
being instituted in the district court
yesterday, alleging that the publication
is libelous and asking for damages to
the extent of 100000.
The complaint was drawn by Erwin
& Wellington, and makes substantially
the following allegations: On the 10th
of February, 1891. the Pioneer Press,
without excuse or Justification therefor,
but designing and intending thereby to
injure and defame the good name OF
Mr.. Donnelly, and to expose him to
,,vbiIo oopfa,ppt hatrn1 r;diaIlln and
Obloquy, wickedly and maliciously pub
liShed and caused to be published. OF
and concerning him, in the newspaper
a certain article containing false and
defamatory matter. The complaint
then proceeds to set out in full a copy
of the letter written April II, 1880, by
w. S. King to Mr.. Donnelly. The COM
plant then proceeds to further allege as
follows:
That defendant did. by the said pub
LEGATION, falsely and maliciously accuse
and charge that the plaintiff had COM
mitted and been guilty OF certain crimes
and felonieS, namely: That while the
plaintiff was holding the Office of repre-
sentative of the state of Minnesota in
the congress of the United States, he
had accepted and received sums of
money from divers persons as brides TO
representative. That plaintiff, while
holding such Office. accepted and re-
ceived bride to influence his vote and
action as such representative on GER
tain bill for legislative purposes then
in his hands. That while holding such
office the plaintiff by means thereof and
in consideration of his supporting certain
legislation eXtorted money from various
parties, and did blackmail certain par
ties out of divers sums of money. That
he did bride certain member Oh the
legislature of the state OF Minnesota by
paying him a sum of money to induce
such member to vote for plalntlH fof
United States senator. That he had
solicited one W. S. King to bride certain
members of such legislature by paying
money to them in consideration of their
voting for plaintiff for such United
States senator. That he had written
letter offering bride, and containing
other improper and corrupt proposals,
to William M. Springer in the year 1880,
who then held the position OF chairman
of the committee on elections in the house
of representatives of the United States.
for the purpose of influencing his ac-
tons as such official in certain cleo
ton then pending-betWeen plaintiff
and w. d. Washburn-before said
house Of representatives for the posi-
ton of representative IN such body
from the state of Minnesota. 1t is al
legged that notice of retraction was
served upon the defendant, but it has
wholly failed to make any retraction in
the premises.
1t is asserted that by reason of this
false. scandalous and malicious publica-
ton Mr.. Donnelly has been brought
into public scandal and disgrace. be-
sides being greatly injured in his good
name and reputation to the extent of
100000. Judgment for this sum, in adj
dition to costs and disbursements, is
asked.
The attorneys for Mr.. Donnelly said
yesterday that no notice had yet been
served upon the Minneapolis papers
that published the letter contemporaries
ously with the Pioneer Press, but that
such a course is contemplated as to
them. The Minneapolis Times and
Evening Tribune are believed to be the
intended objects of the forthco ming
suits.