The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-17
A CELEBRATED LIBEL SUIT.
IT GREW OUT OF BLOODY COUNTY
SEAT VAR IN KANSAS.

The Late A. +. soule OF Mop Bitters Fame
Was Accused by n Kansas Paper OF In.
citing the War. and Lawyer stark or
Rochester Was Convicted OF Libel for
Sending n Copy OF the Paper. by Request,
to Savannah, N. Y.-The Case on Appeal.
ROCHESTER,. Dec. 1a-The shade OF the late
Asa T. Soule Of this city. he OF hop bitters fame.
lowered in tho chamber OF the Court OF APP
peals at Albany on Wednesday. when W.
Henry Davis Of this city argued for the de-
PENDANT tho celebrated libel case OF the People
aet. Thomas +. Stark. Mr. Stark is a prac-
Using lawyer in this city. with Offices in the
Powers building. He was associated with the
late Asa 7. soule in the Hop Bitters Company.
a large corporation. with headquarters in
Rochester After time the men had q dis
agreem snt In relation to some OF the financial
affairs OF the concern, and 1t is said that Mr..
Stark withdrew In vain he made overtures
to Mr.. Soule for u settlement OF his claims
against the company. something like $780,
600. Mr.. Soule was also heavy dealer in
property In Kansas. most OF 1t being located in
or near the town Of ingalls,. Gray county. on
tho line OF the Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad.
and on the banks OF the Arkansas River. about
seven miles from tho town OF Cimarron.
In 1887. when Gray county was organized.
1t was voted to have the county seat located at
Cimarron. much to the chagrin OF Mr. Soule.
who wanted 1t located in ingalls,. One of the
most terrible county seat wars In the record
Of thu West grow out OF the rivalry. Mr.. Soule
was instrumental in having the county seat
removed to Ingalls,. The people OF Cimarron
arose in arms. and on Jan. II. 1889 q bloody
battle ensued between the inhabitants OF tho
rival towns. When the fight was over several
men had been slaughtered. The following
<h> 80
headline. "A. T. Soule. tho murderer" COM
menting on tho battle. said: THE instigator
and father Of this bloody and brutal ons Taught
IL no other than one Asa T. Soule OF Rochester.
N. "" and proceeded in the following lam
I'm Rochester. n. y. A, T. Soule may pose as
q gentleman. man OF influence and honor. a
him through but not so in western Kansas.
Gray county. Cimnrron or ingalls,; His repu-
practise his hendish iniquities. briDeries. and
other cutthroat connections to luther his
ssttlers lives ives. Forbearance has at last @sased
to bea virtue. and the psople now demand
that this man he removed and keGt from our
seat fight. no bloodshed."
upon MIR. Soue's moral character. which were
expressed with frankness bordering upon
litigation with Mr. Soule. On Feh. 23. 1888
Nr. STARK received n letter from a. " fulnum
him sa' paper with til, ssSonnt p the Kansas
sent war fhn WAS
with the stimulation that they should be re-
turned ITO to him II one week short or time ase
{e!!svs$ in tie Sessions .' on %sc ,' r.
BY s. n sawyer. District Attorney. with tLe
late H. Ga%p Of s8ps s. s2unss Arf
ten months nth Wien the Sher was trinins the
psy to ear ns Who haG hs
oner conducted to the Court House whore a
motion me for stay awe was granted BY Judge Davy;
Sessions was reversed. The prosecution then
Previous to his Indictment for Publishing a
libel he was indicted in this city ON the charge
proceedings that he had a conversation with a
man on certain day. and he atterward found
h I'd was Is f. Camp h Ia" sncs the
ed at the Court Of Appeals by James ". Dun.
indct ment did not charge a crime: that it
further rth Claimed hat it did not give the nams
Of any person to whom It was published; read.
language of tho statute which was n mere
conclusion Of law. Mr.. Davis was upheld in
BIS 5aaHe: E5s
Tho Court of Appeals decision will be awaited
with much interest.
Wilson Soule. son Of Asa r. SouIe. it is be-
lieved. is DESTROYS OF seeing Mr. Stark pun
ishsd for circulating the papers containing
the attack upon hi. father in this part of the
State. Since the death OF Asa T Soule. two
ceased to exist. and Wilson Soue has retired
from active business to the enjoyment of the
tors. Mr.. Soule is Just completing in East
avenue mansion which has cost about
100000. 1t is tho finest residence in the city.