The times., 1893-12-08
OWENS LIBEL SUIT.
Gone the Way of Its Predecessors. .-Th,
Times Will Continue to State
Facts.


Gone the Way of Its Predecessors. .-Th
Times Will Continue to State
Facts.
We were only able to make brief men
tion last week of the result of the SIS, 90
libel case Of Geo. w. Owen VS.. K. o. Dewe
and j. N. Mcbride, editors of TuE TINE
In 1891, when the alleged libellous articl
was published. The case occupied th
attention of the Court for five days-at
cost to the county of about $500-and wa
hotly contested. The attorneys for tb,
plaintiff were Jas. M. GoOdell and A. l.
Chandler; for the defendants, w. M. Xii
patrick, y. r. Smith, Odell Chapman. The
witnesses for the plaintiff were Mr.. Owen
Frank House, Mrs. Owen and Jos. Weiss
of Detroit. We do not care to take up space
TO give any part of the testimony OF
Mr.. Owen. He was on the stand for several
hours, during which time he made many
admissions damaging to his case. He ad-
nitted that he might have said to Senator
Wilcox that ''there was money in it," but
testimony relative to receiving money
$2OO-from the democrats in 1884 and 5000
from the republicans in 1888 for political
changes only confirmed what was generally
understood by the public. He also testified
that Tarsney promised him the appointment
as postmaster in OwossO. The testimony
Of Owen was sufficient to show that there
was no foundation for the suit and that he
had no chance of winning. The testimony
of Senator Weiss left Owen In bad light,
as he swore positively that he never told
Owen to tell Wilcox that lit was the chance
of his life," a statement Owen had sworn
TO with equal postiveness.
For the defendants Senator Marcus Will
cox, Chas. Lawrence, j. N. Mcbride, ii.
Whitaker and Fred Britten were sworn.
Mr.. Wilcox testified that Owen approached
him, asking him, after referring to the
political complexion of the senate, If he did
not "want to 20 into business to make
some money" saying, 1--WE can both use
money" that there is money In it for both
of u.s." that lit was the chance of his will
cox) life," and other similar expressions.
Mr.. Wilcox said that it was impossible to
to misinterpret what Owen said, that the
whole tenor of his conversation was money"
and that Owen did attempt to influence his
action. The testimony of the Senator was
given in such straightforward, earnest
way as to impress every one present with its
truthfulness, and all attempts by the
plaintiff to tangle him up on cross-examina-
tion were without avail. The evidence of
Mr.. Britten related to an interview had
with Owen, published in the Detroit Even
ing News, i'm which Owen said he might
have used language from which Wilcox drew
the inference that there was moneyin it,"
statement made in The TIMES editorial and
certainly showed Mr.. Owen up in very
unenviable light
Several hours were consumed in the argu-
nent and in the presentation of the law.
After the charge of Judge Newton, which
was eminently fair, the jury was given the
ease and i'm just 2S minutes returned with
verdict of no cause of action, result which
had been anticipated from the time Owen
left the witness stand.
The article complained of was published
in THE TIMES, March 81, 1891, and was as
follows:
THE ATTEMPTED BRIBERY.
Shiawassee county, politically, has con-
tinued the even tenor of its way, and no |
great sensation caused by bribery or politi- I
cal crimes have ever been connected with !
rs. However it was reserved for news
paper man to be charged with an attempt to
change the political complexion of legisla-
tiOn by an offer of money to the patron
and democratic senator from the twelfth
district. THE TIMES regrets that the circum
stances are as they are Nothing however
Is to be gained by equivOcatiOn or by at
to make the worse appear the
better. A careful analysis of the situation
is that Wilcox makes the most specific state
nents of times, places and circumstances
where and when G.. w. Owen approached
him. There is that perslstency about these
repeated interviews that discredits Owens
theory of just mentioning In casual way
that there was money In it for somebody.
In front of Lawrence's store In this city
after the election, Owen presents the scheme
to Senator Wilcox. Wilcox goes into the
store and with the greatest injunction of
secrecy, tells La 0rence of ths proposal.
Wilcox and Owen are old neighb0rs land
the probabilities are that Owen supported
Wilcox covertly the last days of the cam
paign.) Would Wilcox seize this OppOr-
tunity after election to stab his neighbor, If
Owen had merely suggested some innocent
pleasantly regarding money? Wilcox re-
fused to 60 farther than merely protect
himself by informing his friends, and would