New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-10

Sas raised few men who in ability and in aptitude
Greeley. As an editor and especially as political
editor. he perhaps had no equal in the united
editor. philosopher and statesman he had many
rivals; but In costume and eccentrGities Horace
His eccentricities, II enumerated In detail would
fill many a volume
while Mr. Greeley excelled in all kinds Of writ.
ngs and in speeches ana addresses upon almost nest
e1y y; rey Of 5 s0e he snd at easc in se
extreme; other times genial to the last degree
THE SUITS BROUGHT BY COOPER.
over forty years ago he with some other ed'-
became involved in libel suits brought AGAINST
them by J. FenmOrc coCpsr the b novelist sSm
times on the trial o. the Mr. GTeeIay acted no as
re s Hs A reading I in The Tribune very
Ing editorial written by Mr.. Greeley giving an ac-
duct OF the as his own lawyer ne did not spare
himself; his wit and humor were at his own ex-
truth Of the charges contained in the libel he said
aynS reaI the r coTa at the time it appeared
probably forty or forty-hve years ago-and having
saPposns In Describing our or, hs sssH
against us that were beauty; We've should
admit l. as would be is to take sso sspe be on c tnat
PEELED to admit that It was so rickety nat r we m
Many Illustrations might be given Of the frank iso
was, in a marked degree appreciatye and tus; TO
his competitors ana rivels The following incident
brother OF the Rev Or Leonard bacon Of Con- Tbo
necticuo was for long time eonnes'sd n wn lanes
Watson Webb was the edttor and propreior. MI
h saf0h BEEN WAS the WashnFion corresPondn The
Courier and Enquirer. Finally, Mr.: Bacon's con.
nei M WI Webb 'R having quarree they
vgor assailed each other IN me newRapeir am
pearei in The Courier and ENQUIRER Inttnau. y,
S M RaSSs and the
tade on the part OF his friends. The editorisl
70 tn. disturbed condition of his mind, was In
sarcastic and ronical vein -. c.,.-o,,o
Court asansi Mr. Webb for libel Ar,crwaTd "a, as an an
Mr. Bacons action r MeGo he ed s nm ior
c,our, Of The city OF New-York and It so happened
s trial Of the S suit Il r "f Rsson Mr. nt MTss Tas
eroundicss and mpudent defence to the effect that
Character was so bad that he could not suffer any
damage by OF libel Joseph L. White an abe
and eloquent lawyer. who had been distinguished
member OF Congress. conducted the case for the
paintln j. Prescott Hall; The founder and head OF
The head acted az counsel for the defendant Among
the witnesses for i9s pan'n were william Sve o
The New-York Evening Post and The N yey
Journal Of WIN sa wmq
They were asked II they knew James watson W to
and they had known MIN S %e w an roGssd to-
state what his character was. win cohslderHpr
apparent hostility they promptly answered. BAD
very bad -, ,,,, r.. ,o..
,ine carried on an editorial warfare with Mr.. webb
nroba Div more bitter than Mr.. Webb encountered az
Tho hands OF any other OF his rivals. AFTER Mr.;
Greeley had testified that he knew Mr.. Webb ana
mad known him well and for a long time. he was
asked what his character was-whether go1i or pad.
NJ creeley's prompt answer was: Mr.. Webb mas
,ood and bad Qualities In excess and can't strike
Tho balance Mr. Clinton was present. ana heard
ia ahove testimony given. Mr. Webb seemed sur.
VA nrtssd when Mr. Bryant and Mr.. Hallock evlnced
- much acr!mony I'm their answers; but when MI:
- ,. gave the above answer Mr.. Webb smiled
and said 10 his counsel loud enough for those pres
a., 20 hear: ~ am satisfied with the answer THIS
tr,aI which took pace about forty or forty-nve
Years ago excited much interest on account OF tne
nositon OF the parties and the unique impudence
~ ,he defence The result verdict OF six
cents for the plaintiff. The case OF Bacon agaihs,,
Wnhh was afterward tried twice. On the first trial
,bo t,rv disagreed on the second trial Verdct
~ ely cents was rendered for the plalntin THESE
r,als furnish strong illustration OF the unwisdom
~ ibe suits growing of journalistic squabbles