The morning call., 1893-06-13
BIERCE is HELD.
The Prattler' in Serious
Trouble.
HIS TOO CRUSTY PARAGRAPH.
A San Rafael Justice of the Peace
Decides That in 1t He Libeled
John Monteith.

Ambrose Bierce, a gentleman VIII o
writes English Of as causic nature as
muriatic acid. paid the quiet little town of
San Rafael visit yesterday forenoon.
The local band did not turn out to bid
him welcome. nor did the Fire Department
Mr.. Bierce was not looking for well
come; anot her fellow was seeking justice
from him in the Justices Court. He ap-
peared before Justice of the Peace f..
Gardner to answer a charge of crimina al
libel preferred against him by John Mon
teith. a welI-known Marin County citizen.
Monteith for long time enjoyed the
distinction of being the editorial writer Of
an illustrated magazine, called the Caiifor-
MAN. Recently the proprietors of the
magazine engaged a successor to Mon
teith. Bierce. it appears, took 1t for
granted that he had been discharged Tor
incompetency, and in letting portion OF
the world know about the matter through
the medium of daily paper for which he
prattles, wrote the folio wing:
What has become Of John Nontleth who be-
Ing discharged from the Californian brought an
action for restoration of marital rights. There
Is good orening for him up at Folsom. Ii Is
the door OF the State prison.
Now Mr.. Montieth could not appreciate
Mr.. Bierce's humOr. His Interpretation
of the meaning of the para graph is that he
committed felony Of some kind, and was
therefore eligible TO join hands with the
convicts rusticating at Folsom and indulge
In the pastime of breaking rocks In the
quarry.
Montieth thought his reputation had been
greatly injured, and also that MIR. Bierce
had committed a crime by libeling him.
He therefore had Mr.. Bierce arrested.
Mr.. Bierce had his preliminary examina-
tion yesterday forenoon, and it was not an
entirely satisfactory one to him.
Attorney Garret McEnerney was pres
ent 10 represent him, and, as the line of
defense was to be that the words con-
tanned in the paragraph were not susceptl-
bic of Mr.. MoDteilh's Interpretation, be
brought up trio of well-known news
paper writers to testify as experts. They
were Frank j. Motfitt, E. II. ClOlgh and j.
OHara CosgrOve.
They did not have chance to show what
they knew about the English language,
however, for when Attorney McEnerney
called Mr.. Bierce TO the stand to testify az
to the meaning of the words and show
that the article was not intended TO lead
people TO the belief that Mr.. MODteith was
a fit candidate for Folsom prison. the JUS
tice ruled it out as Irrelevant.
Attorney McEnerney then informed the
court that his client had no testimony to
offer.
MI Monteith's son. Attorney George w.
Monteiyh. who represented his father,
theieupon arose, and in the course of his
remarks asked that Mr.. Bierce should be
held to answer for criminal libel, swelled
up considerably at one time, and as ked dra-
matically:
"What would this mans grandchiid
think Of this charge years from now?"
This was enough for the court and Am
brose Bierce was held to answer in the Su-
perior Court.
Mr.. Bierce will sue out writ of habeas
corpus In the Supreme Court. and have the
matter decided there.