Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-01-30
$tauntotl Spectator.
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 80
The First Steps in an Important Trial.

Lie rlrSt Stops III Oh AMPVTtaht ATlai.
Under the caption above, referring
to Massey's suit for libel against the
Norfolk Pilot, edited by Rev. Sam
Small, the Norfolk Landmark says.
"the Hon. John E. Massey, Superin-
tendent of Public Education, has. in
obedience to the proprieties of the case,
and to the universally expressed opin-
ion, through the press and otherwise,
of the people of the State, taken the
first steps to bring to the bar of justice
and of judicial investigation, those
who have through their publications
charged him with selling himself and
his office to the American Book Com
pany for bride, and thus sacrificing
the interests of the public school chill
dren and the people who pay the taxes
to his own mercenary ends. The
charges, which he has thus prepared to
meet in court, involve also the Official
integrity of the other members of the
State Board of Education, Governor
O'Ferrall and the Hon. R. Taylor
Scott. but the language used against
them is not sufficiently direct to fur
nish the basis for libel, in the opinion
of counsel. Mr.. Massey was impelleo
to take this course not only in response
to the demands of public opinion, but
in response to his own sense of resent
ment against a great wrong which he
feels is done him as a public and
private citizen.
Now, the people will have the OPP
portunity of seeing this charge proven
or disproven, and upon the result, will
make up their minds as to the justice
or wrong of the matter. If the charges
which have been SO boldly made are
sustained, then Mr.. Massey and the
Board of which he is member, will be
wholly condemned and will no longer
deserve the confidence of the public
nay, they will deserve the reprobation
OF all good people; but if, on the other
hand, the charges fall to the ground as
without foundation in fact, and a
judgment is given against those who
made them, by court and jury, the
vindication of Mr.. Massey and his CO.
members of the Board will be as full
and complete as will be the overwhelm-
ing decree of public sentiment against
those who have brought the charges.
Any Impotence over the necessary
delay in the progress of the case is un-
reasonable. The process of the courts
cannot be hurried. The terms and
rules are fixed by law and the trial will
come in due course. 1t could not come
sooner, and the form of the suit has
been made civil, which enables the is
sues to be tried without arousing the
personal antagonists and passions OF
criminal suit. The question is one
of truth and the integrity of public
officers who are well known citizens, as
against their accusers, who must stand
or fall by the test provided by the
laws of the land for such cases. The
contest, in its legal aspect, alone, to
say nothing of its public significance.
will be one of great interest every
where, as the law of libel will have a
thorough application and decision
will doubtless be reached more clearly
defining the rights and responsibilities
of individuals as well as of publishers
in Virginia, than has heretofore been
recorded. Able lawyers are already
employed by Mr.. Massey and doubtless
will be by the defense"