The herald., 1896-01-28
TUESDAY. JANUARY aS. 300
AN ACTION FOR LIBEL

Many and invariably futile have
been the libel suits filed against news
papers of Los Angeles, but for the frs
time in the history of the city news
paper has been summoned to court te
SHOW reason why it should not pay
damages for printing facts as they are
shown by the official record.
=: l-,t!sgday Frank D. Lewis, attorney
for the Indians of the San Fernando
mission, commenced an action in the
superior court of this county against
The Herald Publishing company fol
libel, setting as the price to be paid on
the alleged damage to his character
consequent upon the publication Of
certain facts of record regarding his
professional relations with Rogeric
Rocha, a ward Of the government
whose interests were committed to his
care, the sum of $4,000.
Mr.. Lewis is gentleman who, to say
the least, has been somewha indiscrete
IL the official records are to be be-
lieved, places lofty valuation on his
character. Whatever else his worst
enemy might say Of him he cannot be
!, accused OF personal undervaluation.
The marve. is that Mr.. Lewis limited
himself to s 100. It would have cost
\ him 40 mors III time, money or trouble
to cue for thrice $4,000, and he would
str ad equally as good show of secur-
I ing juds rsnt for the one amount
as for tbi other.
Mi lewis considers his person al
chs acter bruised, battered and gener-
ally impaired by two certain publica-
's in The HERALD; one in the edi-
# the 21st instant, and the other
edition Of the oath instant. In
-rs.t the story OF how Rogerio
a Was deprived of valuable land
iging to him and his right to a
soration OF Cfe land neglected, and
,aIly according to the records ex-
inguished, was told. The allegations
nads in that article were based on
carefully ascerts.ined facts, and if Mr..
Lewis finds himself in an unpleasant
position in consequence of the publica-
tion he has himself to blame. He may be
embarrassed, but he certainly was not
libeled, as only the truth was told.
And if Mr.. Lewis has read the trouble
some article with the care, and consid-
cred it with the candor that a good
lawyer with professional reputation
worth $4,000 should, he will, being as
familiar, as he is with the facts of the
case, admit at least to himself that
only the truth was given.
In ths publication of the Oath instant
the words that seemed to have dented
Mi, Lewis professional reputation,
are: "Be that as it may, Rogerio Rocha
rs nearing the Goth year of his age, a
rauper, without place to lay his
head, while whatever rights he may
have had in the broad, rich acres of
San Fernando have been lost to him by
the treachery of his attorney" By
what mental processes Mr.. Lewis came
to the conclusion that he was referred
70 as the attorney who had been guilty
of "treachery" his complaint does not
explain. As matter of fact in this
particular connection Mr.. Lewis was
not specifically referred to. Years be-
fore Mr.. Lewis became attor-
ney for Rocha +he latter was
deprived of his pro r'y aud the un-
fortunate mans hts FINISHED
when others besidss AiE. tawis 10 in
illegal capacity Tor bim, hlr Wis
rally came o. the sceue alter ocha
nd enjoyed annie pt5rt, " to
@r<A0A tACo ~-r 81 H-a- -t'ts udE -
ians othe 500 himaei aao the haste
With wn.cf ie4gpsiea himself as
the o. ~ glle tse aeausation was
lnte' Is 7staer pee liar. II, how
W. Lswis aailY considers that
Y k,oet al9rp h.s own foot with
Ii tika nrfG .arlec ion he is welcome
10 II
1 Bat whiie 9rs,lous to the attorney
: ain ok AIt Le lis, Rocha as the result
~ sithsr 'reachery, incompetency or
aeg.ixenee. was dispossessed of his
'eDas ja le San Fernando valley, it
vas rs until Mr.. Lewis became the
tssa nent attorney that his rights to
Rnds we're finally extinguished