Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1896-06-05
A QUEER LIBEL CASE.

snow let lis go one step at time,"
said the solicitor. "You want to pro-
coed against Mr.. Svendeleri for libel, I
understands"
Eyes, I do, and TIM sure shall get
heavy damages" answered Mr.. Hedge
hog. His libels are of the grossest-'
s'Just wait now,' put in the solicitor.
',These," and he held tp number of
post cards and letters, '';lre the iibels
you complain of?''
Yes, they are, and I think nobody
Will deny
<:Never mind, now. just answer my
questions as shortly rs you can. Are
there any others?"
mot as far as know"
ST see they are all addressed to you.
Well, those sent to you in closed en-
velopes are not libels at all, SO we
needn't trouble about them
'<How's that?" asked Mr.. Hedgehog.
''You see, there is no publicatior,-no-
body saw them but yourself or those to
whom you showed them. With the post
cards it is different. The law presumes,
you see, that the postman reads all the
post cards that go through his hands,
and SO there is publication to q third
party Well, let lis look at the post
cards.
..They're not half as bad as the let
ter:s.' muttered Mr.. Hedgehog, t;iscon-
tcntedly.
''That can't be helped" replied the
solicitor. 'This one runs: who stole
the Roughshod jewels? It was Emery
'Edgchog. was it? OF course not. He's
no thief; he's only a private detective. ,
Well, that's strong enough. L think.
The others, see, are much the same"
sizes, much the same"
"And they're all anonymously
"Yes--all.''
''But you're sure you can prove the
writing is Svendeleri's?''
''I'1n sure can--in fact, I know he
won't deny it,
''How do you know that" asked the
solicitor, sharply.
We'll, the fact Isl said Hedgehog,
hcsitating slightly. che daren't. Atany
rate I'm sure he WON'T
The solicitor was silent fora moment.
during which he scrutinized Hedgehog
l1eenly.
Mr.. Svendeleri is not a very rep
utable person." he then said. "but he
hasn't usually been reckoncd fool, and
why, not being a fool, he should write
such silly post cards passes my compre-
hension.''
Hes very furious witt. me- an
swered Mr.. Hedgehog. you see. Mr..
pitt," he went on, in a con iidentiai tone,
''him and me have had lot of dealings
together, and lately we had a row, and
now he's fairly mad, and doesn't care
what he does to get revenge. That's
the way of them Jews. Once you have
fired writ into him he'll get cooler and
apologize and pay up"
do you know any thing about these
Jewels :" asked the solicitor, tritle sus-
piciously.
Not as much as he does" answered
NIL Hedgehog, with a sly wink
What do you mean ?" demanded the
solicitor. ''Does he know ANYTHING
about them?"
No, not as far as I know" said Mr..
Hedgehog, hastily. II was only iok-
ing
The solicitor again was silent a mo-
n,ent, and again he keenly scrutinized
the private detective. At last he spoke:
Il don't altogether like this Job he
said. There seems to be lot of hanky-
panky about it, N.~
1t won't give you any trouble cried
Mr.. Hedgehog. "I'm sure Svendeleri
won't let it come into court. Your chief
work will be running up your bill of
costs. and you know Svendeleri's good
for thousands
Mr.. Pitt reflected for moment.
Well, I'll issue it," he said. ssand in
etruct counsel to settle statement of
claim.''
Three weeks later Mr.. Hedgehog. in
response to note from Messrs. Pitt &
Fox, attended their Office in Bedford
row. MIR. Pitt again saw him. After
the usual greeting, Mr.. Pitt informed
him that he had received the defense in
the action.
Does he deny he wrote the letters ~
asked Mr.. Hedgehog.
NO, he does not" answered Mr..
Fit.
II knew he dare not cried Mr..
hedgehog, exultingly.
THE defense Mr.. Syendeleri has set
VI" said the solicitor, lis what we law
yers call Justification"
What's that?'' asked Mr.. Hedgehog.
ut is to the effect that the action
does not lie, because the libel is true in
fact
The private detective started and
turned pale.
You don't mean tc say he ex-
claimed, ''that Svendcleri says it's true
stole the Roughshod diamonds?'.
That's precisely what he does, say"
answered the solicitor, calmly
well. of all the impudence." cried
Mr.. Hedgehog, as he gasped for breath.
The old scoundrel--to think Of it
for him of all people to say such a
thing
We'll, well,'' interrupted the solicit
or. s'it's no use abusing him. What T
wanted to see Won for was to .ret f,,rf bar