The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-10-10
SIX CENTS FOR LIBEL
Small Damages Awarded to
DR.. Lawrence in His Suit
Against Editor Lane.
Specfql 70 the Jerseu citu Neus.

ELIZABETH. Oct. 10. 1ss5.-The trial
of Editor Lane. of Summit. for libel,
ended yesterday in the Union County
Circuit Court. The case went to the
jury at II O'Clock, and at 2 O'Clock a YER
dict was rendered awarding six cents
damages to DR.. Lawrence, the plaintiff.
DR.. Lawrence will have to pay the
costs of the suit. all but SIX cents.
Lawyer Lindabury finished his sum-
ming up for the plaintiff shortly after
Court opened. and he made a strong
presentation of his case. In summing
VI. Mr.. Lindabury said:-"We don't
want damages for ourselves. We are
willing to diwde the damages. after pay
ing the costs among the charitable in
situations of Summit
JUDGE VAN SYCKDL'S CHARGE.
Judge Van Syckels charge to the jury
was very severe or Editor Lane. The
Judge said all the testimony showed the
publication in the Record" was Sbel. as
it was not founded on facts. MY duty,
gentlemen said the Judge, sis to say
to you that you must give the plaintiff
some damages in this case. DR.. Law
renee must be compensated for this
false attack on his character. In cases
Of this kind, where t can be shown the
publication was inspired by malice, the
jury can also give exemplary damages.
But Mr.. Lane says that what he
printed about DR.. Lawrence was some
thing he was told had been said at a
public meeting, and he published it, be-
leving it TO be true. If you believe his
statement to this effect, it can be taken
in mitigation of exemplary damages, and
your verdict should not be SO heavy as
If he maliciously printed this f~alsehooG,
knowing it to be untrue.
EDITORS NOT PRIVILEGED TO LIE.
IAN editor of a newspaper has no
more right TO lie about a citizen than
any other Individual. and his punish
ment should be the same as any other
offender
The Judge then clearly defined the law
OF libel. and concluded by saying:-"I
don't know there is any need OF my say
ing more on the subject. Your duty,
gentlemen, is plain, and the only ques-
ton for you to settle among yourselves
is the amount of damages you WI
Witness buckley, who was the strong
est one for the defence, greatly modified
rs emphatic statements made at the
morning session of court yesterday when
ne took the stand at the afternoon ses-
son to be cross-examtned by lawyer
Lindabury. He admitted finally, that he
A-a iS01 LILY OOds q Liz iildA5llaN-Oi
meeting charge Dr.. Lawrence had acted
improperly in the granting of the electric
light franshise.
Mr.. Curtis. the witness thought, to the
best of his recollection, had mentioned
the doctors name in this connection, as
also, he believed, had Colonel Person.
The speakers had openly charged there
vas a "nsgger in the fence and that
The Township Committee was being iii
iuenced by Jonathan Bonneil, wis was
at the head of the electric light syndi-
cate.
LANES TESTIMONY.
Parker W. Page, of the Township Com
mittee. said he voted for the franchise
and that he and his two colleagues, DR..
Lawrence and Chairman Day. had very
severe things said about them by the
peakers at the indignation meeting
which he attended by Invitation. 1t was
~nsinuated that a trolley line through
Summit was back of the franchise for
an electric light compan to operate in
the town.
Editor Lane testified he wrote the al
eyed l.hellous article.
After the verdict had been rendered.
editor Lane was heartily congratulated
by hundreds of people. He at once paid
The six cents damages and six cents
more as his share of the costs.