The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-15
CHARGES OF LIBEL MADE.
Motion for an Investigation by a HtnriCO
County Jury.
PUBLICATIONS IN The HENRICO NEWS.
The Matter to BE Given Its First Hearing
on the Second Monday
in May.

Messrs. William II. Sands and George d..
Carter. attorneys. made a motion in the
County Court Of llenricO yesterday morning
asking that the Court have summoned, either
during the present term or at its next term,
which commences on the second Monday in
May, a special grand jury, in order that GER
tain alleged libelous publications which. it Is
claimed. uniustly reflect upon the registrars
of the county as a class, and upon most Of
the nominees of the Democratic party, as
well as upon Judge Minor himself, may be
investigated and the authors brought to JUS
tice
The attorneys who made the motion have
reasons for believing that the nominees 81 the
Republican party for the county offices were
prime movers Of, or, at least accessory o.,
{ o. publication.
The libels complained Of are several para
graphs i'm The IfenricO News. sheet that
made It's appearance IN the county LOT INC
first time last Saturday.
n has no ostensible owner, and no editor Is
named ih the paper.
But on the second page arc printed 10 large
type. Republican County Ticket. and the
names of the Republican nominees for Treas
urer Sheriff. Commonwealth Attorney, and
tho two commissioners of the revenue, which
is followed boy these words
Having no other means Of redress. the county
candidates named above have determined 70
publish weekly he HDnuco New, a. medium
through which they can INFORM me people. VIM
ont regard 10 party. az the fraudulent methods
adopted by Our opponents for the purpose oi
clerting their friends IN the coming county
All the executors of the law are parlisqn-.
and 10 will be seen from what is published ln
this paper that some ~ them are thoroughly
dopravcd IN their moral cone' piions.
Tho opposition know they cannot WIN hF lair
means; they have determined 10 succeed ly
I've shall i'm future issues not only publish
facts. hui give the names ~ fhc men who have
consented tO act as tools of TIC ru- when low
seeks to- control the affairs Of Hcnrico.
The paper then goes On % indulge IN moro
personalities.
Judge Minor and Major Poe are charged
with attempt 90 intmidate working men
I'M alludue to the strike of the cmployes Of
the Richmond Locomotive and Machine
Works. and the registrars are charged with
perjury and with stealing the votes Of the
llr Sands. in opening the motion, stated
That the publication was a criminal hnei ana
ought % boz investigated iu Justice % tho
court. no less than in Justice % the candidates
and registrars who We're accused Of violations
of their duties.
Mr. j. W. Southwark. the Republican
nominee for sheriff asked tO be allowed 20
make % statement. and with the permission ~
the Judge discamcd ali responsibility for The
hbcllous statements and said that De- had no
knowledge %. the intended publication ot the
paper until it had been printed and dis
trihutcd
Mr. Anderson and Mr.. Thomas made simi-
lar statements. ali denying that they were pm
any manner concerned IN getting up the
paper
iIr. Carter. i'm submitting the motion, said
that hedid not come i'm court for The purpOs" OF
araignIng these men. but that "a, the pubhca-
uun contained numerous offensive hbel- he
desired that the matter should be inyestl-
gated. and that he thought if the Republican
nominees bad not been at all concerned mn the
publication as they affirmed, they ought to De-
as anxious AS anyone else to have the matter
investigated.
He also suggested that the person who cir
cuiate- % libel is gs much amenable tOpuniSh-
ment therefor as the person who composed II,
and that IL would be no difiicuit matter 10
prove that some Of the nominees Of the Re
publican party and officers If the county were
active in giving publicity and circulation TO
tn paper.
The Judge stated that he bad already or
dercd "a special grand jury for the second
Monday IN May at which time the matter
will bo brought 10 their attention.
IL did not require much time 70 make the
motion. but the Republican officers. who bad
become rather animated took no little time
IN making their explanations, which the Court
allowed. as there was no objection.
The Henrico News has been widely circu-
lated throughout the county, and 1t Is thought
that II will not DE very dincult 90 trace the
publication 10 IT, source