The times., 1893-12-08

Wilcox never connected Owens name with
with the proposal.
Now can II be presumed that Wilcox was
attempting to lay trap for political pur
poses and to ensnare Owen? The scheme
would never have been unearthed had II mol
been for circumstances that drove WILCOX
out of the democratic party and the friends
he had confided to refused longer to keet
the secret. These then are the circum
stances that must lead to the conclusion thai
Wilcox never sought to betray neighb0r OF
nominally opposite political faith for mere
political effect.
Another feature of the case for considera
tiOn, was Wilcox mistaken in what Owen
meant? 1t Is possible to assume that i'm one
of series of conversations there might be q
misinterpretation, but when the same tenor
follows in each instance, at the first and al
| subsequent interviews, II Is impossible To
believe that Wilcox could have been mis-
taken. Owen made no less than half
dozen attempts to secure Wilcox In this
matter. He was interested in no legislation
and In his interview with the Evening News
claims hr had private business with Wilcox,
yet does not nor will not disclose the nature
OF the private business, and Wilcox says
they bad no private business. The attitude
OF Wilcox during the early portion of the
session seemed to have discouraged Owen,
but later, when the unseating of Morse and
Horton changed WilcOx's attitude, Owen
renews the attempts and goes over to Will
cox's home at Corunna, for what purpose?
Owen says social visit; Wilcox says that
Owen said, ''There is money in it for both
OF u.s." Are the repeated visits of Owen
purposeless? Does he go each time to
COrunna, to Lansing and invite Wilcox to
his Office for nothing? That Owen had
money on his mind Is known, for he men-
toned to two leading men in OwOsso on
different occasions that there was money in
1t for somebody, that Is the present control
of the senate, and about month later said
to another citizen that Wilcox was a man
that could not be bought. How did Owen
know? Had he been making an offer to
Wilcox, that was r, fused?
Owen has permitted himself to be inter-
viewed and has made such admissions as
practically cover the charges made by
Wilcox, except the actual proposals for
money and this Is partially admitted. When
the senate committee investigates the
charges, on certain points there will be a
direct contradiction between Owen and
Wilcox. The question will then turn on the
veracity of the two men and the antec' dents
of each. The political vacilatiOns of Owen
have not always been explained satisfactorily
nor has he consistently supported the party
ticket. The attempt to bribe is a states
prison offence and for a man to attempt
crime for money is disgrace to the party,
and no attempt to palliate or belitte the
matter will avail. The parties implicated
Dwe 1t to themselves to court the fullest iu-
Then II it shall appear that
here was no corrupt practice, The TINES
will most cheerfully make amends. If
otherwise, the disgrace and odium that Is
brought about can only be atOned for by !
repudiatiOn of bribers and punish
nent of bribery.
The charge of Judge Newton was as fol-
Ows:
Gentlemen of the Jury:
This has been lengthy case, but we have
1t last reached point where we may hope |
fOr termination of 1t.
This is case Of a written or printed |
SANDER which under the law Is called libel. |
A libel may be defined as false, malicious |
md unauthorized publication of that which |
ends to subject the person at whom it is |
,imed to contempt, disgrace and humilia-
ion, or to punishment for the crime con-
aimed i'm the article complained of. Charac-
er Is the property of man. 1t Is just as
much mans property as his silver dollar,
,r his twenty dollar gold piece or greenback.
Il is his property and no man has right to
leprive him of it nor to depreciate the value
,f 1t unless he has good cause for doing so.
We have statute in this state, section 9,241
# HOwell's compilation, that reads as fol-
ows: Every person who shall cOrruptly
rive, offer or promise to any executive,
legislative or judicial officer after his cleo
ion or appoin ment, and either before
'rafter he shall have qualified or shall
lave taken his seat, any gift or gratulty
with the intent to influence his
ct, vote, opinion, decision or judgment on
my matter, question, cause or proceeding
which may be then pending. or may by law
ONE or be brought before him i'm his official
apacity, shall be punished by imprison-
nent in the state prison not more than five
ears, or by fine not exceeding three thou
and dollars, and Imprisonment in the
0unty Jail not more than one year."
This statute makes it a criminal offence to
ffer OF promise money or other reward to
the action of a legislator in the
erfOrmance of his duty. | call your atten-
on to that because it is claimed in this
ase. and there is no dispute about it, that
lr. Wilcox was senator representing this
district, and he had been elected
} represent the people of this district. also
the state of Michigan. And it is claimed
Y the plaintiff In this case that he was
andered by the article which was pub
shed in the form that it was-t has been
lad to yOu-and that it was false. and that
was malicious when they charged him
ith having attempted to brlbe, or offered
ribe to influence the action of legislator
Mr.. Wilcox was elected upon a ticket
lppOrted by the democratic party and by
Orthy body of men in this state under an
ganization known as the Patrons of In
lstry; the exten. of the reformation they
tended to effect is not material. They
slieved that as a body of men they could ,
y an alliance with each other i'm peaceful
amer by ballot, adopt such course IN
)litics as would inure to the better manage
ent Of their affairs and afford them better
,mpensatiOn for their labor. He was
ected by those two bodies. l charge you
DIV that no man or newspaper has the
ght or privilege to falsely accuse another
Continued on page eight.)