The herald., 1894-04-25
EDWARD ROSEWATER IN JAIL
The Editor of the Omaha Bee
Outraged.
Fined and Imprisoned for Alleged
Contempt of Court.
A Clear Case OF Judicial Malice-Judgs
Scott Railroads His Victim to
Prison-Great ExcltemenS
Over the Event.

BY the Associated Press
OMAHA, April 24.--Edward Rosewater,
editor OF the Bee. was today sentenced
to Imprisonment for 80 days and to pay
a hne of $500 for alleged contempt OF
court. Without being given an oppor-
tunity to appeal, Mr.. Rose water was Or
dered to jail at once and for six hours
he was behind the bars of the Douglas
county Jail. At 6 p. m. the state su-
preme court granted . superaedeas and
Mr.. Rosewater was released until the
case can be reviewed by the higher
court.
The alleged offense committed by Mr..
Rosewater was in allowing to be printed
in the Bee q local article in which IL
was stated that there was evidently
some pattiality shown to certain crlml'
malls in the district court. as of two men
caught robbing railroad depot, the
moor man was sentenced to prison ana
the SON of wealthy parents Was given his
liberty without the case coming to tTiai'
! The facts in the case were not oenieo'
but Judge O. r. Scott, who had dis,
missed the case in question telt aggrleveo
at the word "pulr' used in the article,
and had the reporter who wrote the
matter brought before him Tor contempt.
After a disgraceiul scene in court the
reporter was sent up for 80 days, and
then Judge Scott concluded 10 1rralgn
the editor of the paper on the same
charge. -.
AZ Judge Scott has been most bit.
ter and vindictive political enemy OF
Mr.. Rosewatsr, it waB generally pc
lieved that the action taken was Tor
personal spite. The case was called Tor
hearing today, and nearly the whole
bar of Douglas county and hundreds OF
citizens were present In court to listen
] to the proceedings. Evidence WAS in
troduced to show that Mr.. Rosewater
: knew nothing of the article complained
of; that he was not in the office on the
. date of its publication; that he had moi
: directed the matter, and in TACT was
entirely ignorant that an article OF any
such q nature was about to appear. lu
spite of the evidence, Judge Scott de-
ciared the defendant guilty, and after
]. giving him q severe tongue'lasEing ina
provoked some demonstration from th'
Q auditors, the judge started to impose
: sentence without giving Mr. Hosewatel
Y an opportunity to be heard. But TN
: editor proposed to have his rights AM
he interrupted the court with deman'
that he be heard. This at hrst tn'
j court refused to grant, but Mr. Rose
I. water insisted, and alter much coniu
;, sion he said:
: 'If men who own property. who rull
:. corporations, who employ men In VAR
/, GUS walks OF life, II these men wer
: held responsible for the criminal conuuc
OF all their employees there would not .
}. isils enough in America to accommouat
= tham. 1t is q monstroua doctrlne.
than surrender what has been fnnGh l. e
70 by tne faEh6fs OF this republic, which II
y cludss the liberty of the press to crit
10 else public servants-and the courts al
4 public servants as much as any oth'
class, from constable to a represents
n tive In the Legislative halls in the Cal
n itol at Lincoln and Washington. Ishs
y cheeriully submit to this ordeal.
,r will not hurt me. II there is anythin
d that am guilty Of if have been guilt
o OF any contempt at all, it is the con
,, tempt of my fellow-citizens for helpin
y Colonel Scott to become judge of thi
- district"
: at the conclusion Of Mr.. Rusewater'
talk, Judge Scott ordered the sheriff d
s hurry the prisoner to the county Jail h
J. serve out the sentence of 80 days.
n It is the general belief of lawyers tina
o the finding of the court will be over
Q turned by the supreme court when tn
Q case comes up for review. Ne proceed
ings held in this city for years hav
!, caused 40 many expressions of condem
a nation directed at the court. The sen
. tence was the chief topic Of discussion
in the citV TODAY.