Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1895-12-19
THAT CIRCULAR"
The Declarations in the Two Damage
Suits Filed With the Court Fri
day Afternoon by Counsellor
Trenchard.


day Afternoon by Counsellor
Trenchard.
When the suits brought by Hon.
Bloomfield Fl. Minch and Walter HI.
Bacon, Esq, against Charles E. Sheppard,
Chairman of the Democratic County
Committee in November, it was declared
by many to be an anti-election bluff.
but on Friday Hon. Thomas w.
Trenchard counsel for the complainants,
filed the declarations in the two suits,
and the cases will go in court.
/ There is too much principle at stake for
these cases to go by default. 1t must be
settled by a jury whether or not candi.
! date for office can be ruthlessly assailed,
even in the bitter moments of bitter
campaign. 1t must be settled by jury
used for the purpose of aiding political
party to victory, Notwithstanding the use
of the lawyers name goes SO far as to
charge him with being felon and liable
to a fine of $4,000 and an imprisonment of
five years in prison, for attempting to
bribe public officer.
Even political candidates have rights
that are bound to be respected, and so
now the courts must be appealed to, that
the rights of Messrs. Bacon and Minch
may be protected.
The whole matter is too fresh in the
minds of the people to need recalling. It
will be remembered that on the very eve.
of the compaign, under cover of the dark
ness of night, there appeared upon the
streets in various parts of the county
circular, headed Corporations Furnish
the Boodle.' The circular contained
what purported to be a fac sinetle of let
ter written by Walter HI. Bacon, the we'll
Minch, then candidate for the General
Assembly. The letter set forth with re-
markable particularly that Mr.. Bacon
had made political contribution to Mr..
Minch because Mr.. Minch had been faith
full in the legislation to interests MI.
Bacon represented. Commenting upon
the letter, it alleged that Republican
members of the Legislature were bought
and paid for in advance by corporations.
The whole trade of damaging abuse was
signed by Charles E. Sheppard, chair
man.
The declarations as prepared by Mr..
Trenchard, counsel for the plaintiffs, are
carefully drawn and set forth precisely
the damage that has been sustained by
the plaintiffs by reason of the libel.
In the declaration in the case of Mr..
Minch, it is shown that previous to the
time of issuing of the circular, Mr.. Minch
was business man, having the confidence
of his fellow men, and at the time he was
assailed, was member of the Assembly,
an office of honor, trust and profit, and
was candidate for reelection, and ap-
pealing to the people for their suffrages.
Mr.. Minch claims that he has not been
guilty of committing any of the acts
charged, never having received any bribes
nor voted as amember of the Assembly for
consideration, and the charge that he
had been bought and paid for by corpora
ton interests, came with crushing force,
and served to rob him of the esteem of
many of his former friends and happy ac-
quaintances, and had the effect of robbing
him of votes of the people before whom
he was candidate.
And that was evidently the reason the
circular was issued. Mr.. Minch was
successful candidate, and the circular
was evidently put forth to damage him, to
h.acken his record, and to make it appear
that he was a man that would misrepre-
sent his constituency for the gain of
money. The circular tended to wholly
ruin the young man, and to deprive
him of the honor and profits of an office
for which he was candidate! And with
this taint, this false charge, this. un-
founded allegation lying against him,
Mr.. Minch is obliged to go in Court and
ask damages from the man responsible
for the libel, hence the suit.
In the declaration filed in the case of
Mr.. Bacon against Mr.. Sheppard, the
same state of facts are shown. At the
time this circular was issued Mr.. Bacon
was and still is, an Attorney and Coun-
sellor at Law, and also Solicitor and
Master in the Court of Chancery and car
ried on the business of the profession
with great credit and reputation, and had
an enviable professional reputation in the
community, and represented large and
important interests, and his clients re-
posed in him special confidence.
Never having been guilty of any at
tempt to bribe anyone, imagine the in
justice, the injury that resulted from the
publication OF this untruthful circular. 1t
charges disgrace to professional stand
ing and Injuries professional career. It.
places Mr.. Bacon before the community
as a man guilty of a crime, the punish
ment for which is fine of 5000 and the
Prison, and in addition prevents him
from ever holding any public Office.
Can such charge, remain unchal-
lenged? Can he stand before the COM
munity in the light of a criminal? Can
anyone imagine the injury such charge
would do to the business of lawyer?
He loses the respect and confidence Of his
clients. and cannot enjoy the esteem of