Evening star., 1895-03-08

add another celebrated case to the annals
Of American criminal law. While the In
dictment Is one in behalf Of the public
against the nbelous course Of Mr.. Dana and
his cOadjutor, Mr.. Laffan, yet 1t incident
ally protects the reputation Of Mr.. Noyes
and others who have been maligned by
this source. 1t Is assumed that these per-
sons are willing to attempt to Justify In
court this publication against Mr.. Noyes
and such an effort at justification Is well
coined. It Is eminently fitting that the
case should be tried in Washington, where
Mr.. Noyes was born and has always lived,
and where his reputation Is best known.
1t has been a source of gratincat1on 10
MT; Noyes and his friends that many
United Press papers have risen above the
bad feeling engendered by the contest be-
tween the Associated Press ard the United
Press to severely rebuke the Suns attack.
This has been particularly noticeable al
Mr.. Noyes' home here in Washington.
where the two United Press papers-tne
Post and News-have taken occasion 10
express their high regard for him ana tnelr
contempt for Mr.. Danas libel The Wash
ington Post, In a loaded editorial deplores
the violent and rancorous controversy ana
the unfortunate tone and temper OF the
New York Sun. 1t says Of the Sun editorial
of February %, that Mr.. Noyes is one OF
the directors of the Associated Press, and
as such had incurred the animosity of the
Sun. 1t adds:
1--WE are very sure, however, that the
SUMS accusation against him will not bear
inquiry, and, for our part, We take pleas
ure In saying of Il fellow-townsman, albeit
a competitor in business. that no one who
knows him as we'll as we do will be In the
very least disturbed by the SUMS extra
ordinary attack"
The Washington News. also a United
Press paper, speaks of Mr.. Dana's propen,
sity for saying "a bitter thing now and
then for the pleasure Of saying It," and
adds:
s"The business integrity of Mr.. -Noyes has
never been questioned by those who know
him best"
The Washington Times also editorially
referred to Mr.. Noyes' high character. and
deplored the "vials Of billingsgate OF the
Sum-"
Similar expressions have come from pa
pers throughout the country.
The indictment Against Dana and
LnRan.
From the Washington Times.
The prompt action of the grand jury Of
the District In bringing s.n Indictment
against Editor Dana and Publisher Laffan
of the New York Sun, for criminal libel
upon Mr.. Frank b. Noyes, Is matter for
congratulation on the part of Mr.. Noyes
and his friends and associates.
Neither in the Indictment, nor In IA
vorable verdict, If one should be rendered.
would lie any special vindication for Mr.
Noyes, who, in this community, stands
above reproach, and far above the shafts
Of abuse which SO iraScible an old gentle
man as he of the office cat may huri
against him.
It speaks well, however, for the sense OF
decency and good order which pervades our
community that the grand jury should re-
gard the proprieties outraged and the law
violated by an attack which, going outside
of the business circles in which the quarrel
originated that gave rise to 1t. chose for its
object the private character OF gentleman
prominently connected with one Of the en-
terprises.