The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-22
TIM STANDS FIRM
MIR. REARDON REPLIES TO THE
CHARGE OF LIBEL ON ARTHUR
BOWIE.
TRUTH AND HIS PRIVILEGE
AS AN OFFICIAL OF THE CITY
HIS PLEA IN THE PRE-
MISSES.
DID NOT EVEN KNOW THE MAN,
So He Thinks He Can Not BE Reached
by the Suit for Personal
Libel.

The answer of the defendant in the
suit brought by Arthur e. Bowe
against Assemblyman Timothy Rear
don was filed yesterday by O'Brien &
O'Brien, attorneys for the defendant.
The answer sets up that the defendant
is a duly elected and qualified member
OF the assembly and at a meeting Of
that body on Dec. 8 he was present in
performance of his public duty. That
at such meeting the claim and demand
of the Philip c. Justus, mentioned in
the complaint, for payment of the
judgment in said complaint described
came before the assembly for allow
ance; having been reported for pay
ment by duly appointed committee
of said assembly, and that such pro-
ceedings were then and there duly had
by the aforesaid assembly that each
member was required to vote and act
upon the question of the allowance Of
said claim, and that at said time and
place and in his capacity as a member
of the said assembly and while acting
in such capacity at such meeting OF
said assembly upon the question OF
the passage and allowance of said
claim and in debate thereon during
said session of the assembly, this de-
PENDANT did say, that in his opinion,
that If said case of said JuStuS against
the City of st. Paul had been properly
defended, said plaintiff Justus would
not have obtained judgment therein;
and this defendant alleges, that it was
his right, duty and privilege to make
such statement, or any other statement
that he saw fit to make of or concern
mo oil i'm hill Ill
so pending before said assembly at
its" regular meeting, and that this de-
PENDANT was and is privileged to make
such statement, or any other stat ement,
and cannot be questioned therefore or
held ansWerable therefore in any ac-
ton or proceeding of this character,
or at the suit Of any private person.
And this defendant farther alleges
that at the time of making said state
ment, he made the same fairly and
honestly and in the belief of their
truth and in the performance of his
duty as q member of said assembly
and In acting and speaking upon
public matter that was duly before
said assembly for consideration and
action; and this defendant AYERS, that
at the time of making said statements
he did not know who this plaintiff
was, or that such person as plaintiff
resided in the City of st. Paul, or thai
he had any connection whatever with
said cause of JuStuS against the City
of st. Paul or with the legal depart
ment of said city, and this defendant
believed at the time of making said
statement that said cause of Justus
against the City of st. Paul was in
charge of the city attorney of said city
of st. Paul, Edward J. Darragh Esq.
and of the legal department thereof
and that he had no knowledge, infor-
mationbor belief nor did he know that
plaintiff was a member of the said
legal department and that in making
said statements this defendant did not
refer to said plaintiff or intend to re-
fer to, nor could he have referred to
said plaintiff, as he was absolutely and
entirely unaware of his existence and
connection with said legal department
In view Of these facts Assemblyman
Reardon denies that plaintiff has been
damaged 5,000 or any sum and de-
mands that plaintiff take nothing by
the action and that he be allowed his
costs and disbursements