The evening times., 1896-03-31
HIS PEN WAS TOO SHARP
Correspondent Rule Sued for
Criminal Libel By Mr.. Bartlett.
WARRANT SERVED AT ONCE
Defendant Explains How the Story
Was Published and Says There Was
No Malice-Ail Arose Out of the
Sulzer-G bison Episode In the House
Some Days Ago.

Representative Franklin Bartlett of
New York swore out a warrant in the po-
ice court this morning. charging James
+. Rule, correspondent of the Frankfort
Journal, with criminal libel. The war
rant was served by Detectives Carter aud
Gallaher this afternoon, and the prisoner
admitted to bail in the sum of $500.
Judge Henry X. Gibson, member of Con-
gress from Tennessee, became his surety.
The warrant is based on an article that
appeared i'll the Journal of the 23d OF
April, which alleged that Mr.. Bartlett had
purloined a circular that furnished the
subject of humorous and sarcastic speech
from Mr.. Suzer, Mr.. Bartietts colleague.
The circular III question was one prepared
by Judge Gibson, and intended 10 be dis
tributcu among his constituents. 1t was
rather self Ia udalory III its nature. This
circular was printed by Poikinhorn, on ID
street, and it was from him that Mr.. Rule
obtained the Information that led TO the
publica ton of the article.
THE CORRESPONDENTS STORY.
The correspondent gathered from Mr..
Polkinhorn's statements that while the cir
culars were drying, before any OF them
had been delivered 10 Judge Gibson, Mr..
Bartlett called and inquired about some
printing for himself. While there he picked
up one of the circulars, and, ascertainiug its
nature, appropriated it. 1t was adorned
with cut OF Mr.. Gibson. and a couple Of
American flags at the top. and gave, IN de-
tail, the actions of the Congressman since
lie has been here.
Further, according to the story, Mr.. Bart
lett took the circular and howcd 1t to Mr..
Sulzer, who siczed the opportunity it pre-
sentcd, and made the Tennessee Congress
man the subject OF various shafts of sar-
G,.Iza ntt -fx.i
considerable attention, especially in Ten
uessee, where Judge Gibson would doubt
less preferred To have had 1t unknown, and
Mr.. Rules story was calculated to throw
cold water upon it to a considerable ex-
tent.
The article begins with the statement,
Congressman Bartlett purloined the cir
cular, and thereby hangs tale. Wien
Judge Gibson, in his remarkable battle with
Comgfes ssman SulZer, 'ScidlitZ = q WIDER Sui
Zer,' declared that his circular must have
been stolen, be knew that he must he near
unto the truth, for nc knew that they were
still in the hands OF the printer, except
for Jew copies that were III his Office on
sixth street. But he did not know the
cuprit. The story has come out, however.
aud your correspondent Is prepared to
youch for it
HOW 1T WAS DETAILED.
ner in which. from information received, he
believed Mr.. Bartlett came into POSSESSION of
the circular and handed it to Mr.. Sulzer
when the latter arose in the House to make
his speech on the Bayard resolution.
He further stated that MIR. Bartlett was
known in Washington chiefly from having
stated that there were no Americans eX-
cept the Indians, and as the man who talked
five minutes on the Cuban resolution and
then printed in the Congressional Record
a minute speech, in which. in the calm and
quiet OF his private Office he had inserted
the word applause" and loud applause
in seventeen pla ces.
Mr.. Rule said TO a Times representative
that, since the publication of the article.
no Tevcr, he learned that Mr.. Bartlett was
not the man who took the circular from
the office of Polkinhorn and published a
correction of the original story in his paper
last Saturday. This, he said, preciudes any
idea of malice. =