Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-13

Libelous Circulars-The Case Attracts
Wide Attention.
Nearly two-thirds of the population o.
San Pedro was congregated in Judge
Shaw's branch of the superior court yes
terday, either as witnesses or as inter
ested observers in the proceedings fol
criminal libel against J. w. Davis, 9
well-known druggist of San Pedro.
The groundwork for the suit was the
circulation last May of an open letter
signed by ]. w. Davis, in which he gives
George H. Peck, of San Pedro, fearful
scoring.
q. Wiley Wells appeared for the de-
Tense, and District Attorney McLachlan
and Deputy Diehl appeared for the pros
ecution. The open letter denounces
Peck as liar of the most craven and
despicable type. From the evidence ad-
duced Davis and Peck had been in some
business transactions together and had
row of bitter character.
G. II. Peck was put on the stand and
gave a statement of their business
troubles leading up to the open letter.
He had never told Davis that he would
have to move away from San Pedro, and
did not remember going past Davis
store in May with his hand on pistol
and glaring at Davis. When he passed
Davis store, the latter glared at him.
Mr.. j. III. Dodson testified that he
had seen the open letter circular when
it was put in circulation; he had seen it
posted up in several stores and other
public places in San Pedro, and in some
places lunches of them were tackled on
the walls. He had also seen copies of
the circular in the hands ofquite num-
ber of persons.
Thomas Voight of San Pedro testified
to having seen the circular in half a
dozen places as we'll as in the hands of
different individuals. He produced one
of the circulars which he had secured at
the time, and it was placed in evidence.
The testimony of E.. w. Scott and M.
Brooks was of similar character.
Willie Potter, particularly bright
specimen of the San Pedro small boy,
was next called, and testified that he
had seen the circular at different places,
and then went up and saw Mr.. Davis at
his store. He asked for circular and
Mr.. Davis gave him two dozen of them
and told him to give them to men. He
sold lot Of the circulars and received
10 cents apiece for them. John Bailey,
another urchin, gave the same testi-
mony in general.
j. G. Maher testified to having seen
the circular posted at number of
places. He was city marshal at the
time. He had copy of the circular,
and had kept it as curiosity in San
Pedro literature.
G. Wiley Wells-Did you not publish
a manifesto once that was curiosity I?
Mr.. Mahcr-I published manifesto
once, but / don't know that it was a
curiosity.
E. @. Huntington did not add much
further information than the fact that
he had seen the circular. j. F. Ander-
son testified that Davis admitted in a
conversation with him that he had pub
lished the circular, and also said: "I'll
get even with the cd d-n scrub"
Witness denied having said to Bob
Monroe that any testimony he might
offer would have tendency to injure
him with the Wilmington Transfer
company.
The defendant, ]. W. Davis, was put
on the stand, and detailed the differ
ences existing between Peck and him
self. He related ali interview which
took place between himself and Peck,
in which he called the latter a -
---. In fact the interview, as far
as the language used by Davis was con-
cerned, was oil spectacular character,
the great American oath being fire.
quently used. The case was continued
while Davis was on the stand, until this
morning.
"Mamma," said little three-year-old "papa
says you wernt pretty last week. but you are
beautiful today" ''Ahl my child, last week
had neuralgia, this week have Salvation OIL"
Baldwin's Land For Sale.
The entire land outside of E. J. Bald
wins home place, in the famous Santa
Anita and adjoining ranches in the San
Gabriel valley, is now ON sale in guam
titles to suit, on liberal terms. Apply
to H. A. Unruh, Arcadia.
Talk about tall timber in the state of
Washington. How is this? Two blue